Downtown
Club Chaos
Continues
Politics, permits
put police in peril
By Jim Carnell,
Pax Editor
owntown nightclub-related street chaos continues virtually every weekend
due to out-of-control clubs who
disgorge hordes of intoxicated
patrons to the streets, causing
dangerous conditions for police
officers and the general public.
The city has failed to address
issues of permitting for nightclubs who are repeat-offenders,
and continues to allow food
vendors to sell their wares after the niteclubs close, causing
street mayhem and general disorderly conditions, despite
pleas from police commanders
to eliminate these mobile magnets for morons.
A sampling (and indeed, this
is ONLY a sampling) of the
police reports from this select

By Jim Carnell,
Pax Editor
s all are aware, the Boston police detective’s
exam held on June 30th,
2007 was thrown out by Commissioner Ed Davis ten days later due
to simmering allegations that certain individuals/groups of test-takers had advance knowledge that a
certain textbook had been discarded
during the preparation while the vast
majority of test-takers continued to
study from it. The textbook, which
cost $93.00 to purchase, was
widely studied by most officers
who assumed that, because it was
such a lengthy text, many questions would result from it.
The new test has been rescheduled for Sept. 22, but has already
left a bitter taste in many mouths.
Many feel they were taken for a
sucker’s ride by a department in-

A

famous for infusing politics and
personal connections into virtually
every aspect of the job, from who
gets transferred to what job one is
assigned, etc. etc. Many wonder
why they bothered to waste time
and money studying for an exam

which was apparently compromised by insider-knowledge. Rumors, innuendo and allegations
abound, fingers are still being
pointed, and scapegoats have been
singled out for appointment as “the
fall guy” as of the writing of this

article. The following questions/
comments have been received by
the BPPA over the last several
weeks and we print them here in
the hope (however naïve and fruitless) of receiving some answers.
(continued on page A9)

cording to many recent accounts
printed in the local newspapers.
The rift began as a result of Davis’
apparent refusal to discuss with or
notify the D.A., who is legally in
charge of all homicide investigations in Suffolk County, who the
new BPD Deputy Superintendent

BPPA honors its newest retirees

(continued on page A3)
The advertisers of the
Pax Centurion do not
necessarily endorse
the opinions of the
Pax Centurion/Boston
Police Patrolmen’s
Association.
The advertisers are in
support of the BPPA
Scholarship Fund and
every patrolmen who
risks his or her life to
protect and serve the
community.

in charge of the homicide unit
would be. Conley stated he had no
advance warning that former homicide bureau Deputy Supt.
Coleman was being demoted by
Davis.
D.A. Conley expressed great
admiration and support for
Coleman. According to published
reports, the Commissioner’s desire
for increased statistics ran afoul of
Coleman and Conley’s desire to
see quality arrests that would hold
up in court, rather than flimsy arrests based on the need to produce
a “clearance”. Lawsuits and intense criticism over the last decade
have forced homicide investigators
(indeed, detectives and officers
everywhere) to be meticulous
about the arrests they make, erring on the side of “when in doubt,
let them out,” rather than creating
a statistic for a headquarters politician to crow about. Coleman’s
reputation within the BPD is that
he is nobody’s sucker, was an outstanding manager and would
rather ensure that his arrests would
withstand legal challenges than
satisfy the gaping maw at headquarters that needs to be fed sta(continued on page A4)
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U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 2226
Worcester, MA

EDITORIAL POLICY
1. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association.
2. No responsibilty is assumed for unsolicited material.
3. Letters or articles submitted shall be limited to 350 words and must be accompanied by the writer’s name,
but may be reprinted without name or address at writer’s request.
4. Freedom of expression is recognized within the bounds of good taste and the limits of available space.
5. The B.P.P.A. reserves the right to edit submission and/or include Editor’s notes to any submitted materials.
6. The deadline for printed materials for the next issue is JULY 21, 2007.
7. Any article printed in this issue may be reprinted in future issues.

ometimes, I get so wrapped up in the
work of the BPPA and the pace of
life, I lose all track of time. My cir- early indications, on at least on a couple of
cumstances are not an anomaly; they are occasions that those virtues have been misthe typical schedule of BPPA member. Dur- placed. Good leaders learn to steer, the othing the course of the past several months, ers tend to force. Taking a slap at a cop to
there has been much change within the send a message is the easiest thing in the
Boston Police Department and yet, sadly, world, but we find it unacceptable. Regardso much has stayed the same. When all is less of rank or title, we are colleagues, consaid and done one thing is for certain, temporaries; we are brothers and sisters, not
whether the decisions that have been made enemies. To be successful we must be a
are for better or for worse only time will cohesive unit of people separated by title
tell. Bosses will
come
and
Good leaders learn to steer, the others
bosses will go.
It has hap- tend to force. Taking a slap at a cop to
pened about a send a message is the easiest thing in
dozen times in
my career. The the world, but we find it unacceptable.
only constant is Regardless of rank or title, we are
the work of the
patrol force and colleagues, contemporaries; we are
of their union. brothers and sisters, not enemies.
Recognizing To be successful we must be a cohesive
the political dilemmas these unit of people separated by title and
new changes responsibility, not egos or fantasies.
create in a paramilitary organi- No one is better than the other, we are
zation, I have in this together or at least that is our
learned to acperspective.
cept that this is
a fact of life in
the BPD and is part of the department’s and responsibility, not egos or fantasies. No
one is better than the other, we are in this
culture.
With that all being said, regardless of together or at least that is our perspective.
While this tone may burst the bubble of
what side of the changes you are on, you
should be able to expect that your command the so called police reformers who profess
staff never forget where they come from, to have all the wisdom and knowledge of
nor ever forget how difficult it is to fulfill modern day policing taught to them out of
the expectation of the people we serve and a book by such cottage industry organizations as the Police Education and Research
protect.
Everyone begins their career in our rank; Foundation (PERF), Northeastern or the
their rights were protected by this union, Kennedy School of Government who crenurtured and delivered to the ranks and titles ated cliché management terminology such
that they enjoy today. I know the latter tends as “best practices rule” and other strategies
(continued on page A9)
to sound cheesy but there have been some

BPPA seeks to separate from IUPA
By Jim Carnell, Pax Editor
y unanimous vote of the BPPA’s House of Representatives on August 15th, 2007,
President Tom Nee will be sending a request for decertification to sever our ties
to the IUPA (International Union of Police Associations).
The reasons for this separation are simple: the IUPA has failed to respond to our
numerous requests for financial disclosure, and was recently “forgiven” an estimated
$350,000 in dues money owed to the national AFL-CIO, a clear sign that finances are
in disarray. IUPA President Sam Cabral moved the national headquarters from Washington, DC to Sarasota, Florida, several years ago, coincidentally near where he owns
his second home. A BPPA official who had been an IUPA representative resigned
some time ago due to his repeated requests for financial disclosure being ignored and
brushed aside. Several other police departments, including the Los Angeles Police,
have severed or are in the process of severing their ties with the IUPA.
BPPA President Tom Nee stated that we currently pay some $90,000.00 per year
to this organization. The BPPA will be exploring alternate means of maintaining a
relationship with the Mass. AFL-CIO, which may include aligning/associating with
another national union. The decertification procedure is technical and requires numerous legal hurdles in order to succeed, so we expect a lengthy process to begin.
We’ll keep you updated.

B

617-989-BPPA (2772)

Message from the Vice President:

T

The BPD detective’s test:
A nightmare for all involved

his has been a nightmare for all involved. Officers have lost valuable
time and money attending prep
courses, have sacrificed supplemental income due to lost details and overtime shifts,
and have lost valuable time studying that
could have been spent with their families.
Grievances have been filed for compensation for the rescinded book and other associated costs. The Department is trying to
make the best out of a terrible situation. Any
officers who have extraordinary issues
should put them in writing to the Commissioner with the hope that some accommodation can be considered.

M

IOD

y last Pax article dealt with
achieving IOD status and must
follow guidelines that included:
the reporting of the injury and treatment at
a medical facility followed by being relieved
from duty and surrendering of equipment
and absolutely not returning for the next tour
of duty, unless fully recovered.
There are also guiding principles that
help in determining eligibility for Chapter
41, section 111F injury leave (IOD). A police officer is entitled to full pay and injury
leave whenever he/she is incapacitated for
duty because of injury sustained in the performance of his/her duty without fault of
his/her own. The term “without fault of his
own” has been construed to “mean more
than mere negligence…serious and willful
misconduct on the part of the police officer.”
DiGloria v. Chief of Police of Methuen, 8
Mass. App. Ct. 506 (1979). For example,
benefits would not be denied for injuries
sustained in a high speed chase.
Benefits can extend to service-related
injuries which appear subsequent to the date
of original injury even if the officer returns
to duty thinking he/she is fully recovered.
The initial and subsequent documentation
is crucial. The specifics and follow up will
have to show the nexus or causal relationship between the original injury and subsequent disability in order to gain IOD status.
An officer who injures his/her back in an
on-the-job car accident, receives medical or
other treatment and then returns to duty may
suffer ongoing irritation and flare-ups. It is
absolutely vital that each subsequent instance of nagging problems from the injury
be documented. Each time the officer goes
for medical treatment he/she must relate the
condition to the original accident. Only then,
in the event of a later disability from the
same condition, can we prove the causal relationship. The Department often withholds
IOD status until verification beyond a doubt
is established.
There have been cases where officers
have been injured while commuting “to and
from” work. The commuting was considered to be a neutral factor which neither
www.bppa.org

Court decided favorably for the officer because the court appearance was a manda-

Officers have lost valuable time and money
attending prep courses, have sacrificed
supplemental income due to lost details and
overtime shifts, and have lost valuable time
studying that could have been spent with their
families. Grievances have been filed for
compensation for the rescinded book and other
associated costs. The Department is trying to
make the best out of a terrible situation.
Board of Selectmen of Weymouth, 15 Mass.
App. Ct. 1009 (1983), a police officer was
injured on a return trip from a required court
appearance during his day off. The Appeals

tory assignment and he was on a direct route
home.
One case that has helped define the standards to be met in qualifying for IOD ben-

efits while traveling “to and from” work is
Wormstead v. Town Manager of Saugus,
366 Mass. 659 (1975). This Massachusetts
Supreme Judicial Court case helped establish the standard needed for injured on duty
status. The case involved a Saugus Police
Captain who was incapacitated for duty by
an injury sustained in a traffic accident while
returning to the police station from his
‘lunch break,’ a period for which he was
being paid, when he was on call, and while
he was engaged in activities that were helpful to the accomplishment of police functions. The Captain was held to have been
injured in the performance of his duty and
to be entitled to leave without loss of pay.
Important factors that broke the right way
in this case included: (1) that the Captain
was being paid; (2) that he was on call; and
(3) that he was “engaged in activities con(continued on page A5)

Downtown Club Chaos Continues
(continued from page A1)
August weekend of 8/4/07 barely scratches
the surface of what is beyond the shadow
of a doubt an out-of-control, chaotic, disorderly public menace. Police officers and supervisors have complained for years about
these clubs and the conditions the city itself has created by issuing permits for these
niteclubs and food vendors to keep and attract crowds on public streets after 2AM.:
BPD CC# 070428494: Mutual assault
and batteries occurred outside Clarke’s bar
at 21 Merchant’s Row between residents of
Hingham, Boxford, Melrose and Stoneham.
Young privileged yuppie 20-somethings
who had too much Chablis beat the living
crap out of each other, at least one sent to
the hospital. (Editor: Nearby, a sausage vendor continues to sell $8.00 sausages to
drunks, causing crowds to form and opportunities for fights, verbal arguments, etc. The
sausage vendor’s permit is issued from city
hall, and despite repeated inquiries, no action can be taken against this attractor of
idiots, most likely due to political connections/donations, etc. etc. Area restaurants
have to close, but these idiots are allowed
to sell food to intoxicated boobs until 4AM?
How does this make sense?
BPD CC# 070428405: Residents of upscale Chestnut Hill decide to have domestic dispute in middle of State St. at 1:08AM.
(Always good to have idiot suburban-types
calling police on a busy Friday night to settle
their foolish, immature, drunken argument.)
BPD CC# 070428555: 275 Tremont St.,
2:10AM outside Underbar niteclub: resident
of Brooklyn, NY and his girlfriend from
Marlborough St. report being assaulted and
thrown out of bar after altercation. (Editor:
usual complaints of police harassment, inaction were tossed around by various idiots on scene, par for the course…..)

And there are actually
people who want to keep
the clubs open until 4AM,
like in NY, to ensure even
later and longer chaos?
Walk a mile in the
patrolmen’s and street
supervisor’s shoes and
see if you would advocate
later closings for the
clubs. If you do, you’re
nuts.
BPD CC# 070428599: 2:21 AM, Stuart/
Tremont Sts., outside Roxy and Aria
niteclubs: operator of 2003 Mercedes-Benz
refuses to heed police complaints while
making U-turns in middle of street while
huge crowds occupy intersection, narrowly
avoids striking officer, fights officers attempting to arrest him. Roughly 300 idiots
turn on officers, berating them for excessive force, racism, etc. etc., officers forced
to call for help from outside districts to quell
disturbance. Many officers attempting to respond to calls for help report that they could
not negotiate through traffic gridlocked at
2:30AM due to crowds. Several idiots placed

under arrest for disorderly conduct, etc. etc.
Again, space and time simply do not allow me to account for all of the conundrum
which occurs virtually every weekend
around Tremont/Stuart Sts., Faneuil Hall
Market/State St. area, and the North End/
North Station area. Chaos is allowed to rule
because politically connected club owners
want it that way. They disgorge drunken,
unruly mobs to the streets and then sit back
and watch the beleaguered cops clean up
the mess. Officers from outside districts who
are called in to help report being “astounded” at what goes on during the witching hours on Area A. The streets are virtually under mob control from 1 AM till 3:30
AM. Politically-connected food vendors
with permits which can’t be yanked keep
the drunken mobs on scene for hours after
the clubs close, ensuring continued incidents, fights, brawls and disorderly behavior. And invariably, the next day, Mommy
and Daddy, attorney- parents of the yuppie
idiots who were throwing up on themselves
and fighting in the middle of State Street,
call Area A to complain why the police
didn’t arrest the bad man who beat up Tad
and Biff and why Muffy came home with
her underwear on backwards. They demand
to know badge numbers and they’re
shocked, just shocked, that there isn’t a special police report on file to record little Tad’s
black eye, as if the cops had the time to write
a report for every jerk who gets beaten up
on Friday or Saturday night.
And there are actually people who want
to keep the clubs open until 4AM, like in
NY, to ensure even later and longer chaos?
Walk a mile in the patrolmen’s and street
supervisor’s shoes and see if you would advocate later closings for the clubs. If you
do, you’re nuts.

PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007 • Page A3

Treasury Notes:

T

Thomas Pratt,

BPPA Treasurer

The BPD detective’s exam:
Are you kidding me?

o our membership, I start this article only officers who could take the re-test did not need was also extremely aggravat- We attended the funeral of a police officer
with my customary, I hope you are would be those officers who actually ing. The one thing that really gets people that was murdered in the line of duty. It ocall well and enjoying the summer showed up at the convention center and took heated is the fact that they have to waste curred while he and his partner, who also
months and your vacations. My first topic the test. This was the commissioner’s deci- another Saturday, and listen to that proctor was seriously wounded, were conducting a
of conversation will be the detective’s exam. sion. Whether you agree or disagree, at least re-explain the directions.
“routine traffic stop.” I would just like to
Why this? Because a lot of our members a decision was made in a timely manner. If
state that nothing in our line of business is
ew topic, some of our members routine. The potential to get injured is alhave called down to Shetland Street with you signed up for the test and did not take it
have called down to the union hall ways out there, be cognizant of your surextreme anger to inquire what happened? due to a family illness or emergency write
and inquired about hepatitis roundings, never take anything for granted.
Now, are you kidding me! Only in the Bos- a Form 26 to the commissioner, explaining
ton Police Department does something like to him what happened that day and why you booster shots. If you think you need one If you need help or think you need help ask
this happen. A company was hired and con- did not show up, maybe an exception could call the medical unit and check it out. I was for it. Even parking tickets have the potentracted to draw up an exam and administer be made, if you were in a hospital emer- told that boosters are made available to of- tial to get someone hurt it’s not always the
it. The city paid about a hundred thousand gency room, maternity ward, etc., make a ficers who need them.
priority one calls.
dollars of taxpayer doln a much lighter note, on
lars. “I am a city resiThe one thing I would like to see in this exam process on a
July 20, 2007 the Union had its an
dent,” for this service.
nual golf tournament at Franklin
This company was sup- whole is consistency, study a book, take a test, pass the test,
Park. A good time appeared to be had by
posed to draw up ques- get a score and be put on a list. The same consistent criteria
all. The raffle prizes along with each golfer’s
tions from a reading list
goody bag were exceptionally good. Café
submitted by the depart- for all. Morale would be better and we would have less
Portobello of South Boston provided food
ment. A department panel bickering between management and its employees.
and it was excellent. Though the highlight
was convened to decide
of the day came when Pat “The Colonel”
what books would be
I know I sound like a broken record but Rose, our resident international lounge
used. The panel was comprised of detec- copy of the hospital forms and forward them
if your child won a scholarship and you have singer, broke out into a litany of karaoke
tives and detective superiors. Now ask your- with your Form 26.
self why an employer would subject an
My last thought on this subject is that I not claimed it, you have until the end of favorites from Wayne Newton’s Danka
employee to a potential headache like that, would like to bring up is that most of our August to do so. We have members on an Shoen to the Clash’s Rock the Kasbah.
Remember any concerns or questions,
especially when you are paying a company members are really upset over the fact that alternate list. If you need help setting up a
for a particular service, pay an extra saw- they have to re-study most of their summer 529 plan, give me a call at the union and we feel free to call my office and vent them.
This is your association, get involved and
buck and have them pick the reading list. vacation and spend less time with their fam- can set something up.
On a serious note the Union leadership keep me honest, I work for you. As always
Another question you should ask yourself ily and away from financially providing for
is how does the State Police, a department them. The fact that they spent hundreds of along with thirty of our members and one keep your guard up and watch each other’s
roughly the same size as us, administer an dollars on books and a tidy sum on one they superior officer traveled to New York City. backs.
exam and give their officers the results of
the exam the same day and we (the Department) cannot? Once again, I have no answer other than technology has not caught (continued from page A1)
up to the contracted test givers that the city
hires. The one thing I would like to see in tistics. But the BPD’s desire for increased creasingly report that “visibility” is being not) they’d get an earful. Stop with the
this exam process on a whole is consistency, stats obviously trump-carded D.A. Conley’s favored over making arrests, style over sub- “community policing” BS which serves
study a book, take a test, pass the test, get a desire to have some say in who he would stance. (See photo on page B-1 of the Pax.) only to mollify and pander to select community activists and politiscore and be put on a list. The same consis- be working with in high-profile homicide
cians. Let the police be potent criteria for all. Morale would be better cases.
lice; in other words, make it
(D.A. Conley would, a few days later, Stop with the “community
and we would have less bickering between
return the favor to PC Davis by not inviting policing” BS which serves only to plain to the gang-bangers and
management and its employees.
assorted scumbags that WE
The leadership was told by the Commis- him to a press conference about a homicide mollify and pander to select
own the streets, not THEM.
sioner that the testing process was compro- investigation, a clear and pointed returnStop making police officers
mised and he thought it best to schedule a volley to the slight Davis had perpetrated community activists and
act as quasi-social workers
re-test. He stated to your leadership that the upon him. Reports are that the relationship politicians. Let the police be
and city hall liaisons: our job
exam was compromised, how at this par- has grown even icier over the last few
police; in other words, make it
WAS supposed to be to enticular time he did not know. He also stated weeks.)
force the law, make arrests
Meanwhile, old marked cruisers have plain to the gang-bangers and
that a full investigation would be conducted
and put the fear of God into
by Internal Affairs to find out how it was begun sporting a new painted “Boston Poassorted scumbags that WE
the scum who prey on the
compromised. Rumors are flying all around lice” logo, reportedly at a cost of $1,700.00
law-abiding, the elderly and
the department, from persons saying they per car. This despite the fact that many BPD own the streets, not THEM.
the defenseless. Unfortuheard certain people being told not to study cruisers, (such as the 1010 cruiser in Area
nately, under successive ada certain book or books, to persons having A which yours truly was operating last
specific questions and answers. At this point week) have no computers or have ancient Image and PR appear to have assumed cen- ministrations of politically-appointed euthese are all guardroom rumors until Inter- or broken computers, non-working radios ter-stage at BPD headquarters, where 20 and nuchs, we’ve been emasculated as a police
nal Affairs does a through investigation and and lights, and gaping holes where AM-FM 30-ish, strapping, young officers strut and department, afraid to act aggressively uncomes up with a credible answer. This is all radios had once been (Note: NOT PC preen in front of mirrors, assigned to “com- der the threat of lawsuits, internal affairs
speculation. To say that any one person or Davis’ fault- AM-FM radios had been re- munity policing” activities while 55 and 60 complaints, and media criticism. And D.A.
group compromised the exam would be moved by former PC Paul Evans who feared year-old patrolmen answer radio calls on Conley: God bless you: we’ve had our disagreements in the past, but it’s good to see
wrong and just short of a witch-hunt. Let that officers might be listening to normal- the streets.
us get the facts before any conclusions are people news stations and wouldn’t hear their
If anyone up at HQ is listening to the that someone is standing up to BPD’s dedrawn. The Commissioner also stated the car radios). Throughout the city, officers in- troops in the field (and obviously, they’re sire for statistics over quality police work.

N

O

D.A. Conley: Quality, not quantity. P.C. Davis: Style over substance?

Page A4 • PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007

617-989-BPPA (2772)

Secretary Spread:

T

Jay Broderick,

BPPA Secretary

The detective’s exam is a fiasco

he hot topic here at the BPPA is ob- they could prepare for the exam and now
viously the fiasco surrounding the find themselves in situations that their abildetective’s exam. We have received ity to sit for the exam is in jeopardy. At the
hundreds of calls from our members who same time, some members were unable to
are disgusted with what happened and right- sit for the exam due to illnesses or prior
fully so. The idea that some members of commitments and they now feel that they
the department were able to view the actual should be eligible to take the exam. They
exam prior to the exam being given is com- all have valid arguments but the fact of the
pletely and utterly ridiculous. It’s even more matter is that there is no one solution to the
outrageous than the idea that some folks problem that will address everyone’s conknew about the book being thrown out. I cerns.
use the term “idea” because nothing has
At this time, the BPPA Grievance Combeen proven and the whole process is un- mittee is investigating all potential grievder investigation.
ances surrounding the exam. We have
Whatever happens,
it will never be enough The idea that some members of
to make up for the time
the department were able to view
away from families, the
time away from making the actual exam prior to the exam
some extra money in being given is completely and utorder to provide for
your families, or the fi- terly ridiculous. It’s even more outnancial resources that rageous than the idea that some
went into purchasing
the books and taking folks knew about the book being
the seminars. Just as thrown out.
important, is the manner in which the department conducts this posted, on the BPPA website (www.BPPA.org),
new exam as well as all future exams, and instructions as to how to proceed if you took
the need to restore our members trust in the the original exam and are now unable to
promotional process. Grievances have been take the new exam, as well as if you were
filed with the hope that at least some form unable to take the original exam but wish
to take the new exam. We are asking that
of compensation can be recovered.
The BPPA has found itself in a difficult you submit a Form 26, along with any and
situation in that each member has their own all documentation which explains your reinterest or issue with what happened. Some spective situation, to your Commanding
members, who studied hard and put in the Officer and have it forwarded to the Police
time, want the exam to stand while others Commissioner for his approval or denial.
are thankful that the exam was voided and We ask that you forward a copy to the BPPA
have extra time to study. Some members Grievance Committee.
cancelled or rearranged vacations so that

Grievance Committee to research
rescheduling BPD’s Detective Exam
To all BPPA Members,
The BPPA Grievance Committee is in the preliminary stages of investigating all
potential grievances surrounding the rescheduling of the Boston Police Department’s
Detective Exam.
At this time, the BPPA is advising that any member, who signed up to take the
original exam on June 30, 2007, but did not take it and wishes to take the exam on
September 22, 2007, write a Form 26 to their respective Commander requesting
that they be allowed to take the exam. Those members are advised to include, with
the Form 26, all documentation that would explain what circumstances led to the
inability to sit for the original exam. Any member filing such report and documentation should request that the submitted materials be forwarded to the Office of the
Police Commissioner for his approval or denial.
The BPPA is also advising that any member who did take the original exam on
June 30, 2007 but is now unable to take the rescheduled exam on September 22,
2007 but wishes to do so, submit a Form 26, along with all documentation, explaining why they are now unable to take the new exam. Any member filing such report
and documentation should request that the submitted materials be forwarded to the
Office of the Police Commissioner requesting that they be allowed to take the exam
on a different date and time.
Any member who submits a From 26 relative to the Detective’s Exam is asked
to forward a copy of the Form 26 along with copies of all documentation to the
BPPA Grievance Committee as soon as possible.
www.bppa.org

BPPA and Liberty Mutual

T

he BPPA is very happy to announce
that we have entered into an agreement with Liberty Mutual Insurance
that will offer substantial savings to our
members. The basic concept of the plan is
that all members of the BPPA and their family members, who currently have or switch
to Liberty Mutual, will be eligible for an
eight (8) percent discount on their auto and
five (5) percent on their home owners insurance. If a member has both their auto
and their homeowners insurance with Liberty Mutual, they will be eligible to get a
ten (10) percent discount on their
homeowners insurance in addition to the
eight (8) percent discount on their auto insurance. We are anticipating getting a membership ID number within the week as well
as instructions as to how to take advantage
of the discount. Any and all mailings that
go out to our members, promoting the plan,
will be done through the BPPA. We will
not release your addresses to Liberty Mutual. As soon as we get it we will get further information out to you.

News from NAPO

A

s you know, the BPPA is affiliated
with a number of organizations
whose goals are to protect the
rights of police officers across the country.
One of these organizations is the National
Association of Police Organizations
(NAPO).
At last month’s annual convention,
BPPA President Tom Nee was re-elected,
without opposition, as NAPO’s President.
Within a three week period, NAPO was
honored, on two different occasions, to be
the sole law enforcement organization asked
to testify before Congress and the Senate,
on behalf of the rank and file law enforcement community, concerning the issues of
federal assistance (grants) for state and local law enforcement and nationwide collective bargaining rights for Police Officers.
Congratulations to Tom Nee and congratulations to NAPO for their success in
securing these very important legislative
initiatives.

S

Details

urprise, Surprise. The Boston Globe
has again attempted to make Paid
Details a topic of contention. The
Globe recently ran a few articles about the
“fight” between the City of Boston and the
MBTA regarding the use of Police Officers
at construction details. Their attempted spin,
this time, is to insinuate that the greedy
Boston Police Officers don’t want MBTA
Officers to get any details in the City. They
included how much Boston Police Officers
make but I guess the MBTA does their details for free because their rates and salaries
weren’t included in the story. The article
fails to address the fact that the permit was

issued with the requirement that the details
be performed by Boston Police Officers.
The MBTA attempted to ignore the requirement of the permit and hired MBTA officers. The fight isn’t about who does the detail it’s about the MBTA complying with
the City Ordinance and their attempt to invalidate the entire permitting process. But
that story doesn’t sell newspapers so they
spin it to suit their needs.
Not to be outdone, the Herald quickly
followed with their own story about the way
details are being performed along with a
request that readers send in photos of Police Officers on details. So be cognizant
when you are performing a paid detail and
continue to do them in the professional
manner in which the vast majorities are performed.
On the same note, please continue to fax
the BPPA, copies of any reports that deal
with arrests, medical assists, or incidents
where the actions of a Police Officer, on a
paid detail, were part of the incident. Don’t
doubt, for one second, that this type of documentation will be needed somewhere down
the road to show the benefits of paid details.
Enjoy your summer and stay safe.

The BPD detective’s
test: A nightmare
for all involved
(continued from page A3)
sistent with and helpful to the accomplishment of police functions.”
BPPA IOD cases are decided by arbitrators who look at both the court decisions
and precedents decided by other arbitrators
in our cases. In these “to and from” situations, whether it be lunch, court or details,
whether the officer will be carried IOD depends upon the unique set of circumstances.
As with all injury cases, it is vital that everything that happens be carefully documented.

Court and Overtime

P

ublic Safety Labor News reports that
the Brockton Police Chief issued an
order prohibiting overlapping court
and other overtime payments for the same
time period. A grievance was filed and the
arbitrator concluded that the contract language governing court overtime minimum
payments and general overtime was clear
and unambiguous, and allowed for overlapping payments. He felt no need to resort to
an examination of bargaining history or past
practice. The arbitrator concluded that the
officer must be paid in an overlapping situation lest he be denied the benefit of his/her
contractual bargain. The particular fact pattern that created the grievance was unavailable.

A GENERAL PRACTICE OF LAW
WITH AN EMPHASIS IN
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LITIGATION
including personal injury law involving auto/motorcycle
accidents, slip and fall accidents, premises liability,
defective products, medical malpractice, head and burn
injuries, liquor liabilities and worker’s compensation.

AMB is honored to support the
Boston Police Department and the
Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association
in their contributions to the community.

Web Site
www.amb.com
Page A8 • PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007

617-989-BPPA (2772)

Anecdotes
(continued from page A2)
to problems that don’t even exist in our
world, I suggest the adoption of time tested
policing theories taught by street savvy, seasoned veterans who remedied more police
problems at 2:30 am than most academics
could teach in a lifetime.

By way of example let me use this funny
but true story as a metaphor to make my
point. Believe it or not once there was a radio call to meet a woman who was very
upset that her cat was stuck in a tree. Two
cops (one veteran, one rookie) answered the

call. Upon arrival and after making their
initial observations the rookie told the veteran of this new piece of equipment that he
learned about and recently purchased at the
police supply store, given the opportunity
he could quickly remedy the problem. The

Detective’s debacle causes discord, disillusionment
(continued from page A1)
To date, our inquiries have been met with
practice exam? Did anyone make up a
MAMLEO discussing the detective’s
the traditional “the matter is under investispecial exam for suckers who simply
exam anyway? Who elected her? Does
gation and so we cannot comment” stockstudied and followed the rules as they
she have a side contract with the BPD?
boilerplate non-response from the BPD.
were given to us? Did they make up a
Was the Emerald Society or the Ital(some of the questions/comments have
special practice test for Eskimos or
ian-American Society or the Asianbeen combined as the
same issues/comMany feel they were taken for a sucker’s ride by a department
plaints were mentioned over and over infamous for infusing politics and personal connections into
again….)
virtually every aspect of the job, from who gets transferred
1.) Who knew about
the exam book that to what job one is assigned, etc. etc. Many wonder why they
was expunged bothered to waste time and money studying for an exam
from the actual
which was apparently compromised by insider-knowledge.
test? I was studying
the stupid book the Rumors, innuendo and allegations abound, fingers are still
night before the being pointed, and scapegoats have been singled out for
exam, and wasted
many days reading appointment as “the fall guy” as of the writing of this article.
it. What a sucker!
Native Americans, too? This is a dis2.) Is it true that certain units had advance
American/Jade Society informed of
grace, and the BPPA should be speakknowledge that this book was not goany rumors like she was? Last time I
ing up for us, too.
ing to be used? Is it true that certain
checked, the BPPA was the bargaining
ethnic/gender groups had a prep-exam
agent for the patrolmen, not 7.) Should I bother taking the next phony
exam? I’m now convinced that the 60%
that was not available to all?
MAMLEO. This is a disgrace!
that makes up the test means nothing,
3.) Will those who cheated the rest of us 5.) Why were BPD detectives involved in
and the training-experience will probbe allowed to take the exam? Why? I’d
the so-called “advisory committee” to
ably be manipulated somehow, so the
like to drag them out and beat them to
formulate the exam? Rumor has it that
only thing that matters is the 10% porwithin an inch of their lives! They
one of them leaked some info to their
tion subject to the Commissioner’s inwasted my time and my families’ time.
friends about what would/would not be
terview. Why bother? It’s all BS. I can
Typical BPD crap!
on the exam.
ace the exam, max-out the training/ex4.) I saw a letter from the MAMLEO presi- 6.) In regards to the MAMLEO practice
perience, and still be denied because I
dent in which she states that she, PC
exam: nobody gave me a “special pracdidn’t donate to the right politician…
Davis and Deputy Linsky discussed
tice exam” tailored to my racethanks for letting me vent…
these rumors 10 days before the exam.
ethnicity. I’m disgusted and insulted! I
We’re awaiting answers from headquarWhy didn’t the rest of us know? I never
spent hundreds of hours of time and
heard this shit until after the exam was
gave up details and overtime, only to ters. Inquiring minds want to know. We’ll
over! What a crock! And why is she/
find out that MAMLEO had a special keep you informed as events develop….

young officer fastened the apparatus to a
rope, threw it up and over the branch pulling it down
so that the cat
could
be There is a lot of
reached. Just good work
as the cat was
going on out
within reach,
the
rope there; it has
s n a p p e d , not gone
sending the
cat flying unnoticed by
through the the BPPA.
air subseAnd although it
quently landing on a roof. doesn’t show
The woman up in the daily
caller began
s c r e a m i n g papers it will be
demanding written here in
the officers
badge num- the PAX.
bers; she was
going to call the mayor, internal affairs and
have their jobs. The rookie cop asked the
veteran, “What do we do now?” Replied
the veteran, “What I’ve always done - call
the fire department.”
The moral of this simple parable is this;
the best practice rule is what works. And
what works is experience, a commitment
to training good people, using veteran experience and knowledge which in recent
years has been treated like a plague.
Get off their backs and support them for
the sacrifices and the commitment that they
make. They are the solution, not the problem. There is a lot of good work going on
out there; it has not gone unnoticed by the
BPPA. And although it doesn’t show up in
the daily papers it will be written here in
the PAX.
In closing, stick together and be safe out
there. In unity there is strength, from our
strength comes our honor.
Fraternally,
T. J. Nee

dreds of officers reported enduring derisive
cat-calls, middle-fingers, and insulting comments from motorists. I am certain,
Michelle, that if I had the luxury of following anyone for a day (including yourself or
a member of the BPD command staff), I
would likely be able to procure an unflattering photograph, a pick of the nose, a
scratch of the derriere, a cell-phone call or
the consumption of a cup of coffee. Of
course, John Q. Public loves nothing more
than to critique the cop on the street in his
two or three second drive-by and deduce
from that passing impression what we do
all day. Funny, but John Q. is never there
when we’re rolling around on the ground at

2AM with an enraged drunk or picking up
a urine-soaked bum from the street (except
to critique, naturally).

S

I specifically remember one day last year,
when I and my fellow officers were on
(continued on page A15)

Cop hating attorney receives
public reprimand

hortly before press time, we learned that cop-hating attorney Valeriano
Diviacchi, featured in a series of letters in the last two issues of the Pax, received a public reprimand, as reported in the July 30th, 2007 issue of Massachusetts
Lawyers Weekly, page 14. Val was reprimanded for “commingling personal and
client funds” together. The order was entered by the Board of Bar Overseers June
21st, 2007. The oldest police sayings in the book are: “what goes around comes
around,” and “there’s a trash can at the end of every alley.” They remain as true now
as they ever…
– Jim Carnell
PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007 • Page A9

Duke Fitz and Annie Parolin,
BPPA office manager and the
driving force behind the
banquet logistics.
Mike Dowd
declares to
audience his
affinity for
wearing women’s
clothing while
Duke Fitz places
speaker box on
his head so he
won’t have to
listen.

Page A12 • PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007

Mayor
Thomas
Menino
congratulates
the recent
retirees.

Beauty and
the Boss –
Annmarie
Daly and Joe
Vannelli.

617-989-BPPA (2772)

Tom Pratt proves he
actually bought a beer
(bar was open) and brings
a rented friend to prove it.

ike many states, the Labor Board in
New Hampshire has recognized a
privilege shielding communications
between union representatives and union
members. The New Hampshire Supreme
Court recently had the opportunity to decide whether the privilege extended when
the prosecutor was seeking information
from a union representative through the issuance of a grand jury subpoena.
The case arose in 2005, when a psychiatric social worker employed by the New
Hampshire Department of Corrections
sought union representation with respect to
allegations that he had carried contraband
into the prison. The shop steward for the
Service Employees International Union,
which represents Department of Corrections
employees, interviewed the social worker
and several other individuals.
A prosecutor for the State of New Hampshire subpoenaed the shop steward to testify before the grand jury as to what the social worker and others had told him during

union member and an officer of the union,
and operates only against the public employer, on a matter where the member has
a right to be represented by a
union representative, and then
The Court found that the privilege “is strictly limited to
only when the observations
and communications are made
communications between the union member and an
in the performance of a union
officer of the union, and operates only against the public duty. The shop steward has
employer, on a matter where the member has a right to cited in no case in which a fedor state court has ruled that
be represented by a union representative, and then only eral
some form of union privilege
when the observations and communications are made in bars a prosecutor or grand jury
from inquiring into conversathe performance of a union duty. The shop steward has
tions between the union memcited in no case in which a federal or state court has ruled ber and a union representative.”
The Court observed that it
that some form of union privilege bars a prosecutor or
had to be “particularly circumgrand jury from inquiring into conversations between the spect about creating new privileges based upon perceived
union member and a union representative.”
public policy considerations. It
is only when the need for the
and others were protected by a privilege sentative privilege” only applied in a labor privilege is so clear and the desirable conbetween a union representative and a griev- relations setting, and only when the em- tours of it are so evident that it is proper for
ployer was seeking to compel the union rep- the Court to craft the privilege in common
resentative to divulge information. The law fashion. Here, the shop steward cannot
Court traced the roots of the “union repre- claim that the confidential relationship besentative privilege” to a 1991 decision of tween union representative and union memthe National Labor Relations Board, which ber has the same historic roots as those genruled that an employer engaged in an un- erally afforded the protection of common
fair labor practice when it threatened a union law privilege. This is not the type of relarepresentative with discipline for refusing tionship such as attorney-client, husbandas they pass by and direct their anger to- to submit to interrogation about conversa- wife, or clergy-communicant that over time
the common law has considered important
wards us, not the construction crew or util- tions with the union employee.
enough to sustain as privileged.”
Where
the
Court
parted
company
with
ity causing the delay. But we’re not tin solIn re Grand Jury Subpoena, 2007 WL
the
shop
steward
was
whether
such
a
prividiers with plaster smiles affixed to our faces.
1695594
(N.H. 2007).
lege
applied
in
a
grand
jury
situation.
The
I’ve learned over 25 years that sometimes
(Courtesy
of the Public Safety Labor
Court
found
that
the
privilege
“is
strictly
it’s necessary to step out into traffic to reguNews,
August
2007.)
limited
to
communications
between
the
late the flow, and sometimes it’s better to
the investigation. The shop steward moved
to quash the subpoena on the grounds that
his communications with the social worker

ant. The dispute over the issue wound up
before the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
The Court found that the “union repre-

Response to the Herald’s front page headline
of 8/10/07,
“Gunning for BPD goof-offs:
Brass puts detail cops on notice”
(continued from page A9)
mandatory overtime assignments following
the Ted Williams tunnel debacle, sweltering in 97-degree heat and enduring the wrath
of frustrated motorists. Having not had a
relief for several hours, I stepped to the curb
for a moment to down a bottle of warm
water. Within two minutes, a she-devil
yuppie in a $50,000 BMW rolled down her
window, exposing herself momentarily to
the heat, and yelled at me “Great job officer, I have to get to the airport…”. I still
pray to this day that her flight was hijacked
to some Islamic country where she has since
been enslaved and is now draped in a
burqua.
The point is, Michelle, your article
served to use the average cop on the street
as a convenient mule to kick. We all get
painted with the same broad brush because
of the actions of a few. And kindly remember that, despite your so-called “ BPD standing operating procedure” list, and the
Herald’s “tipline” encouraging citizens to
snap a cell-phone picture or send an e-mail
if they see a cop in perceived violation, we
aren’t robots- we’re human beings. On occasion, I’ve had to use my personal cell
phone to contact supervisors to explain the
need for a tow, to discuss business, or yes,
to speak with my “supervisor” at home.
Naturally, impatient motorists and assorted
cop-haters focus on the easy target- the cop-

www.bppa.org

step aside and allow traffic to flow unencumbered. Traffic details can be frustrating,
dirty and dusty- and sometimes our uniforms end up dirty and dusty, too. And yes,
sometimes, traffic situations, driver impatience and basic Boston-driver incompetence requires us to cajole and even yell at
motorists who can’t or won’t understand
simple directions. For anyone who thinks
that traffic duty is easy, I encourage you to
try it before you criticize.
Please remember that your headlines,
while perhaps directed at a few “goof-offs”,
can cause grief and aggravation for the vast
majority of hard-working cops who are simply trying to do their jobs professionally and
pay their bills. You articles are usually very
supportive of the BPD, so many of us were
taken aback by the unwarranted criticism.
Jim Carnell
BPPA Shift Representative, Area A-1

Massport declares itself a
sovereign state
Plans to send diplomats to Boston and
stop in lieu of payments of any kind

M

By Jim Barry, BPPA Legislative Agent
assport, MBTA and the Mass. Turnpike are all semi-independent state authorities
operating within the City of Boston. These entities are part of state government
created through chartered legislation to operate the airports, certain roadways, trains
and buses. Sometimes they do a decent job. Operate as defined, is to manage. Okay, so operate
the airport and the trains and stop acting like sovereign nations. Just like everyone else, citizens, corporations, small business, even state government, have to obey the laws inside the
City of Boston.
These state authorities all too often attempt to ignore the local laws. They don’t pay any
taxes in the City of Boston, and get involved in issues that they have no business being involved within the City of Boston. The MBTA and Massport have development going on the
streets of Boston. Yet don’t think they have to conform to Boston laws.
Massport should stay with the airport and get out of the commercial development world, it
is not part of their charter. Let’s call it like it is, this Republican-controlled authority was
dumping ground for left over Cellucci and Weld drivers and coatholders. Now empowered by
their semi-governmental status (a.k.a., hiding spots), they have all sorts of ideas to help develop Massport within the City of Boston.
The latest stupid rumor out of Massport is that an aspiring admiral over there wishes to
extend the Massport border 15 feet into the Boston Harbor. Forget it. Listen to yourselves,
extend Massport borders? Massport does not have any borders. Folks, you’re not doing all that
great a job over there to begin with, so when these idiotic ideas are floated you attract even
more attention to yourselves.
You’re guests here in the City of Boston, you’re not the Director of Boston, nor commander
of, or for that matter admiral even. You might operate here, yet we as citizens and employees
(BPPA members and families) live, work and play here. The government here in Boston is
elected, not an appointed Republican-controlled board. We have a mayor and a city council.
Our laws are voted on in public, passed by our local government and then approved by the
Massachusetts Legislature. Which makes them real laws? If you have a problem with that, get
your legislation together and we will see you at the public hearings. Until then, Governor
Patrick, will you please appoint some sharp people over in these authorities?

T

Justice Department
announces findings on
Dragon Skin Body Armor

he Department of Justice (DOJ), Office
of Justice Programs (OJP) announced to
day that it has determined that the Pinnacle Armor, Inc. bulletproof vest model SOV
2000.1/MIL3AF01, is not in compliance with
the requirements of OJP’s National Institute of
Justice (NIJ) voluntary compliance testing program for bullet-resistant body armor. Effective
immediately, this body armor model will be removed from the NIJ list of bullet-resistant body
armor models that satisfy its requirements. Pinnacle Armor, Inc. is the maker of “dragon skin”
body armor.
NIJ, OJP’s research, development, and evaluation component, has reviewed evidence provided by the body armor manufacturer and has
determined that the evidence is insufficient to
demonstrate that the body armor model will
maintain its ballistic performance over its sixyear declared warranty period.
Notwithstanding NIJ’s determination, DOJ
encourages public safety officers to wear their
Pinnacle Body Armor, Inc. body armor, model
SOV 2000.1/MIL3AF01 until replacement because research has shown that officers are more
likely to suffer a fatal injury when not wearing
body armor.
In addition, DOJ strongly recommends that
public safety agencies and officers who purchase
new bullet-resistant body armor verify, prior to

www.bppa.org

purchase, that the body armor model appears on
NIJ’s list of models that comply with its most current requirements, the 2005 Interim Requirements
for Bullet-Resistant Body Armor. A list of these
models is available at www.justnet.org.
DOJ also encourages public safety officers to
follow body armor manufacturer “wear and care”
instructions, and not to store armor in the trunk of
their vehicle or other environments in which armor might be exposed to extreme heat or cold.
Information about the DOJ Body Armor Safety
Initiative can be found at http://vests.ojp.gov.
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed
by Assistant Attorney General Regina B.
Schofield, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control
crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP
has five component bureaus: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics;
the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; and
the Office for Victims of Crime.
Additionally, OJP has two program offices: the
Community Capacity Development Office, which
incorporates the Weed and Seed strategy, and the
Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART) Office.
More information can be found at http://
www.ojp.usdoj.gov.

In Memoriam

Rev. James H. Lane,
Police Chaplain

F

or more than 30 years, the Rev. James H. Lane was the voice of
comfort to police officers, their families, and countless people
who took solace in the presence of the thin, prematurely gray
priest from South Boston.
Named the Boston Police
Department’s first chaplain in
1972, the affable priest rode in
cruisers, heard officers’ confessions, and ministered to victims
of Logan International Airport’s
worst air crash in 1973, when 89
people died.
On July 31, Father Lane’s
body was brought home to St.
Brendan Church in Dorchester,
where he had served for 34 years,
to the sounds of drums and bagpipes played by the Boston PoFr. Lane was pastor of St. Brendan’s
lice Gaelic Column.
He died of cancer July 28 at in Dorchester.
Marian Manor in South Boston. He was 74.
“Wherever I have served, it is the faith of the people that stands out,”
Father Lane told The Pilot, the newspaper of the Catholic
Archdiocese of Boston, in 2001, when he retired. “They love their
faith and their families. They go out of their way to be supportive, and
they vitalize the church.”
The son of a wholesale hardware salesman, Father Lane grew up in
the shadow of St. Augustine Church in South Boston, where he would
finish his career. His mother died when he was 11, and he was deeply
influenced by several priests who comforted the family, he told The
Pilot.
His father, Herbert, emigrated from County Cork in Ireland and his
mother, Catherine (King),came from County Galway.
“The archdiocese has been blessed by Fr. James Lane’s ministry since
his ordination in 1962,” Cardinal Sean O’Malley said in a statement.
“He was particularly proud of his work serving the brave men and women
of the Boston Police Department, who mourn his passing, as well.”
Father Lane graduated from South Boston High School in 1952, where
he was on the track team and played second base on the baseball team.
He joined the US Army and entered the seminary after returning to Boston.
He served at St. Paul’s Parish in Dorchester from 1962 to 1969. He
went to St. Brendan’s Parish in 1969, where he was associate pastor and
served as pastor from 1982 until 1996.
“He is the spirit of St. Brendan’s, he was the catalyst that kept us all
together,” said Boston City Council President Maureen
Feeney, a parish member. “He was so Christ-like and filled with peace.
No matter what the situation, he was always the rock. He was truly a gift
to all of us.”
The new parish hall was named after Father Lane, and he often returned to officiate at weddings, christenings, and funeral Masses.
He also served as chaplain of Roxbury Juvenile Court, Boston Juvenile Court, the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, the Boston Police Emerald Society, the South Boston Irish American Society and the
Retired Boston Police Officer’s Association.
After leaving St. Brendan’s in 1996, he served as parochial vicar at
St. Augustine’s until his retirement six years ago.
He also was a member of the board of directors of Cops for Kids with
Cancer. “Father Lane was ready to go home and see his mother, and had
no fear of death,” said his friend, Robert P. Faherty, president of Cops
for Kids with Cancer and a retired police superintendent.
Father Lane leaves four sisters, Helen C. Kehoe of Waltham, Marilyn
R. Putney of Dedham, Rosemary of Florida, and Karen of Newton and
New Hampshire, and two brothers, Timothy of Utah and Kevin of Saugus.
Cardinal O’Malley said a funeral Mass at St. Brendan’s Church and
Fr. Lanes was buried in New Calvary Cemetery in Dorchester.
(Courtesy of J.M. Lawrence, Boston Globe, August 1, 2007.)
PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007 • Page A17

Boston Police Officer Louis H. Metaxas
By Ray Melo
“Hot time summer in the city, back of my neck getting
dirty and gritty... lalala... But at night it’s a different world...
lalala... Running up the stairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop”... as the Lovin’ Spoonful sang.
�����
t was August in Boston and summer was in full swing.
Time for vacations, barbeques, and beach towels. The
music blasted out of the windows of the Mary Ellen
McCormack housing development as the unbridled kids
frolicked in the cascading open fire hydrant. Short lived
miniature rainbows would appear in the street as the spray
of water reflected off the rays of the sun. The juveniles
would scatter like roaches with a flick of a switch as the
fire department arrived to put the water out. The adolescents would return to the project fountain and rejoice while
the scenario of cat and mouse would be repeated over the
course of the summer.
Back at the police station after roll call, officers got into
their cruisers and headed out into the various veins of the
city. Officers unfortunate to get a cruiser without air conditioning had to drive around with the windows down while
cursing the heat and the lucky ones who had A/C.
It was a summer cloudy night on Wednesday, August
23, 1989, at approximately 8:30 p.m. the C102F unit Officer Dale O’Donnell and recruit Officer Paul Painten
received a radio call for a male attempting to break in at
455 Old Colony Avenue in the Mary Ellen McCormack
development in South Boston. Officers Louis (Louie) H.
Metaxas, the C301F, and his partner Daniel (Danny)
O’Connell, the C302F, of the Team Police Unit, whose
primary responsibility was to patrol the projects in Southie.
They also responded to the radio call to back up the C102F.
Both units arrived in unison and the responding officers
made the arduous climb up three flights of stairs to the
rooftop at 455 Old Colony Avenue. Officers Metaxas,
O’Donnell, Painten, and O’Connell stepped onto the roof
and entered a dark world of the unknown. The roof was
flat and had a short wall about 2-1/2 feet high and about 11/2 feet wide that encircled the edge of the roof. The Officers were above the tree line and street lights making visibility nerve-racking. Mother nature didn’t offer any assistance since the moon and stars were blanketed by monstrous clouds. Needless to say, the officers had no choice

I

www.bppa.org

but to venture out as each officer chose their own path to
search for the intruder.
Unknown to the responding officers, a Mr. Michael
Hayes of 453 Old Colony Avenue, a self appointed vigilante and a man of super human stupidity, decided that he,
Captain Courageous and his mighty mutt called Max, would
take the law in their own hands and paws and confront the
outlaw. The 911 call came from the Hayes residence and
this idiot and his best friend stood in a dark
secluded part of the rooftop.
As the scattered officers searched the rooftop, Officer Metaxas’s search brought him
within several feet of the ledge of #4
O’Callaghan Way which dropped four stories
down to Mother Earth. Suddenly, an apparition arose from the blackness in the form of a
four legged beast with sharp pointed teeth capable of violently tearing your flesh off lunged
at Officer Louis Metaxas.
The large 3-1/2 year old trespassing German Shepherd
thrust at Officer Metaxas causing him to instinctively go
into a defense stance with his arms up for protection forcing Officer Metaxas to move closer to the ledge. The animal lunged at Officer Metaxas a second time and he was
knocked over the edge and Louie grappled with the short
wall before gravity mercilessly took hold and he disappeared into the black abyss.
Officers O’Connell and O’Donnell recall seeing Louie
in the shadows when the dog attacked him, and then the
K9 got scent and sight of them and lunged at them before
being restrained by its owner. “LOUIE, LOUIE,
WHERE’S LOUIE? OH MY GOD!” The frantic officers ran to the last spot where they saw Louie. The responding officers, now victims, looked over the ledge and saw
the silhouette of a figure lying motionless on the ground.
The officers raced down the endless 47 steps with the nauseating feeling of an officer down. Officer O’Donnell recalled when he got to Louie’s side, Louie cried out,
“Where’s Danny, Where’s Danny” as he tried to get up.
Officer O’Donnell caringly said, “Don’t move Louie,
Danny’s here, he’s OK. Officer O’Connell recalled as he
was comforting Louie, he and Louie locked eyes and Louie
stated, “Get me out of here Danny. Let’s go! Get me out of
here!” and Officer Louis Metaxas fell unconscious. Officer Metaxas was rushed to Boston City
Hospital suffering from multiple trauma
and was listed in critical condition.
Officer Jimmy Carnell remembers
Louie as a good spirited guy with a
funny sense of humor: “Everyone always got a laugh when Louie did his
impersonation of Billy Crystal of Saturday Night Live, shaking his finger
saying, “You know who you are.”
Louie with his handsome Greek features with his mustache and nose made
him a sensation amongst his peers
when he imitated Groucho Marx.
Boston Police Officer Louis H.
Metaxas lingered in a coma for four
days and Died In The Line of Duty
on August 27, 1989 from his injuries.
Officer Metaxas was born May 24,
1948 in Greenfield, MA and was raised
in Shelburne Falls, MA. Officer
Metaxas was single and was survived
by his mother Theodora, his sister
Pamela and countless friends. Officer
Metaxas is buried at Arms Cemetery
in Shelburne Falls, MA.

Over two thousand police officers from across the country lined the streets around Parker and Ruggles Streets at
the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Roxbury to pay homage
to their fallen brother officer. Police Chief Steve Walker
of the Shelburne Falls Police Department then a patrolman
remembered the endless parade of police cruisers and motorcycles as they entered the town. “It was very touching
and I was very impressed,” he recalled. I want to thank
Chief Walker and Officer Greg Bardwell for
taking the picture of Officer Louis Metaxas’s
gravestone for me.
Officer Louis Metaxas was appointed April
23, 1980 and worked in District B2, Roxbury,
before joining the Team Police. Officer
Metaxas received several department and public letters of commendations. Officer Metaxas
was a Medic, Specialist Four in the U.S. Army.
On August 4, 1969, he received an award for
freeing pinned army personnel from a downed
Army helicopter and gave aid and evacuation to the
wounded in the Wildflecken Training area while stationed
in Germany.
After talking with the officers that were with Louie that
night, I picked up on something that Louie said at his time
of need. He did something so profound that is a true testament of his character. As Louis H. Metaxas lay there knocking on heavens door he said, “Where’s Danny, Where’s
Danny?” as he tried to get up to check on him. Louie’s last
deed on God’s green earth before he went unconscious was
that he was more concerned for his partner and not of himself. How unselfish of him. One can’t get any more absolute than that, my friends. This unselfishness is also reminiscent of Officer Jeremiah Hurley who also lay clinging
to life who was more concerned for his partner Officer
Francis Foley than himself. These are men of men.
As to what happened to the SOB that caused all of this,
Michael Hayes had his dog euthanized two days after his
dog attacked Officer Metaxas. BHA officials stated since
the dog was destroyed they would take no action against
him. The District Attorney’s Office decided not to charge
Michael Hayes. Their office said it was a very tragic accident. Was it an accident, maybe so? However, a Boston
Police Officer was killed and no one was held accountable. Michael Hayes was negligent in his actions and I believe Officer Metaxas died as a direct result of his negligence. He should have been held responsible for his actions and he should have served time.
Before writing the conclusion of this tragic story, I revisited the spot where Louie fell. I wasn’t on the job when
this tragedy occurred, but it looks like the area hasn’t
changed much. The building is still there and it’s the same
color. Bricks don’t change color, they just fade with time.
The only thing that changes in the projects are the people.
People move in and out. Cars still zoom down Old Colony
Avenue yards from where Louie lay. Everyone is in a hurry
to get no where. The street lights still make that buzzing
noise and the summer bugs always fly around them. The
doors leading up to the roofs are now bolted shut and locked
from the outside. There are a few new young bushes scattered about, and a large red oak tree continues to grow now
past the rooftop close to were Louie lay on the ground years
ago. If only that tree could talk. There is no reminder of
what happened that night. Wouldn’t it nice to have the footbridge that goes over Old Colony Avenue from the Mary
Ellen McCormack to the Moakley Park called the Louis
H. Metaxas Footbridge or better yet, rename Preble Circle
to Louis H. Metaxas Rotary? Let us never forget the sacrifice that Officer Louis Metaxas made for the citizens of
Boston. Louie, you’re gone, but never forgotten.
Stay Alert, Stay Alive!
PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007 • Page A19

“The great thing in this world
is not so much where we
stand, as in what direction
we are moving.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes

Life is our life’s work.

Page A20 • PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007

617-989-BPPA (2772)

They Served With
Dignity and Honor
We Shall Not Forget Them

Police Officer
Frank H. Norton

Police Officer
Edward A. Curley

June 9, 2007

June 14, 2007

Sergeant
Edward W. McCarthy

Police Officer
Thomas A. Gill, Jr.

Sergeant
Paul Carpluk

Captain
Morris V. Allen

June 19, 2007

June 25, 2007

June 30, 2007

July 7, 2007

Police Officer
Patrick F. Flanagan

Police Officer
William J. Goodwin

Police Officer
Bernard G. Donahue

Chaplain
Fr. James Lane

July 9, 2007

July 20, 2007

July 27, 2007

July 28, 2007

We apologize for any errors or omissions.
www.bppa.org

PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007 • Page A21

Turner Construction
is proud to support
The Boston Police
Patrolmen’s Association

By Patrick M. Rose, C-11
ow many Buddhists have been involved in terrorist acts lately? How
many Jews have planted bombs in
shopping malls and restaurants? How many
Christians have flown commercial airliners
into buildings killing thousands of innocent
people? How many Druids have driven automobiles laden with bombs or incendiary
devices into crowded squares or airport terminals? How many Mormons have placed
belt bombs and vest bombs on children and
sent them into crowded market places exploding their bodies into a hundred little
pieces along with anyone unlucky enough
to be near them? How many Sikhs send their
pre-school children to watch and participate
with faux idol look-alikes, such as the Mus-

It’s almost
September 11th
(…or did you forget?)
By Patrick Carnell,
Canisius College, Buffalo, NY
EPTEMBER 11th, 2001. You do
remember that day, don’t you? Because a lot of people have conveniently
forgotten, and they want you to forget,
too.
Now, I know, having been pegged as
a conservative writer, that many people
think I’m talking solely about the nuts
on the left wing of the political spectrum.
But there are plenty of nuts on the right
wing too, and since that terrible September day, they’re just as guilty of spinning
nut-case, conspiracy theories as their
kook-counterparts on the other end of the
scale.
September 11th should be just as revered a date on the American calendar
as December 7th, 1941 or June 6th, 1944.
(For the ignorant and stupid among us,
that’s “Pearl Harbor Day” and “D-Day:
the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe”;
(pathetic that I even have to mention it
but a recent study indicates that many
American college students couldn’t even
locate Iraq or China on a world map- sad,
but true.) Unfortunately, there are many
apologists who would simply, well...
rather forget that 9-11 ever happened, or
...well...like...blame it on ourselves or
some other extraneous factors.
Yes, listen to the mainstream media
like the moron-columnist James Carroll
in the Boston Globe or the Cindy
Sheehan acolytes and you’ll hear the
“Blame America First” crowd explaining how 9-11 was merely the response
of the devotees of “the religion of love
and peace” (hint: NOT Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, or Hinduism.
Er...what could it be???) to the one-sided
(continued on page B7)

S

www.bppa.org

lim version of ‘Mickey Mouse’ teaching the
children how to hate and participate in murder?
I can’t remember the last time I heard
the Monsignor, Pastor or Reverend Clergy
wish upon me that “May Allah pluck out
your eye if you haven’t yet seen that jihad

is an individual duty.” You remember ‘jihad,’
don’t you? That wonderful practice of rising up and murdering everyone that disagrees with your religion.
Ah yes, jihad, the end all be all for the
practicing Muslim. Jihad, the ultimate in
persuasion. Jihad, the call to rise up and

murder all of the “infidels.” Infidels, you
remember them, that’s you and me, those
of us that believe in freedom of religion,
those of us that believe in equal rights for
all mankind. Those of us, silly enough to
believe that men and woman of different
(continued on page B5)

The more things change…
In this box, you will see two photos. On the bottom left is a photo taken in 1969,
when then-Commissioner Robert DiGrazia, an arrogant, vile and horrid man who
would (not) soon enough depart the BPD, tried to have nametags sewn into
officer’s uniforms without first bargaining the issue with the BPPA. The incident
sparked a protest by uniformed patrolmen outside Headquarters, then located at
154 Berkeley Street. The ILGWU (International Ladies Garment Worker’s Union –
“Look for the Union label”) refused to sew the nametags out of solidarity with the
BPPA, and the rest is history.
The other photo was taken just a few weeks ago at Fenway Park. (The identities of
the officers in the picture have been blacked out because it is believed that they
were all new recruits, forced by virtue of their inexperience to pose as “blue
props” wearing nametags in front of new Commissioner Ed Davis. The event was
billed as “Unity through Community” Day, and was dreamed up by some nitwit at
headquarters with excessive amounts of time on their hands. As a BPD PR stunt,
the crowd at Fenway Park was encouraged to wear nametags and introduce
themselves to each other. Yeah, right – brilliant idea! Just what people attending a
ballgame want – the boob sitting next to them slopping his beer all over the place
to know your name, so after you belt him he can report you to the police.
1969-2007. The more things change, the more
they remain the same. Thank God for the
BPPA, now more than ever....
– Jim Carnell, Pax Editor

PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007 • Page B1

The good of the whole

T

T

By Mark A. Bruno
hese were two of the most important issues addresinvolving longevity, got locked out totally. This contract
he recent vote on the new contract kind of surprised took out the date and gave anyone with ten years of service
sed on this contract. The minimum increase of
me. First of all, I was expecting a much bigger turn- two-thousand dollars a year, and those with twenty years
13.85% over four years for our members was fair.
out. I know some people are busy but it is important four-thousand dollars. This increase was worked in to the The healthcare increase of 5% on your premiums likely
to get involved with your union, whether you agree or not weekly salaries and would boost the overtime for these would have been awarded had we gone to arbitration. Be
your vote counts. I thought what your BPPA bargaining officers.
happy that we are still able to bargain our healthcare. Most
unit brought back was pretty good. I am happy that the
Many with Quinn Bill felt this was not fair, but Quinn state workers and surrounding municipalities now fall unvote passed, but I am perplexed
der the GIC (General Insurby the amount of people who
ance Council) who alone devoted no. I thought this contract Residency obviously was a big concern for many of our members. termines the rate its employaddressed many issues for most Ten years and out was the best we were going to do considering
ees will pay for healthcare.
of our members. Those who
switch over to medicare
what other unions bargained. I heard some officers saying that we The
had the opportunity to vote and
at age 65 was also a bone of
didn’t can not complain. Given should have held out for lesser time on the residency. I’m not sure contention for some of our
today’s economy, I think the many of these officers would have been crazy about standing on
officers, but the truth is most
numbers were fair and stayed
officers who retire at 55 have
ahead of the rate of inflation. the picket line so soon after the last contract which brought us to
gone out and sought jobs
There were many things we forced binding arbitration.
that will give them medicare
could have lost had we gone to
when they hit 65 years of
arbitration. I will try to explain
age. Between medicare and
each part of this contract and why it was a winner for all. Bill benefits are bumped up every time there is a wage a supplemental plan from the City, these former employResidency obviously was a big concern for many of our increase, longevity is not. It would take an officer receiv- ees are covered all around anywhere in the country. It’s not
members. Ten years and out was the best we were going to ing longevity benefits a long time to catch up to a person that bad a deal. We gave a couple of clerks positions up
do considering what other unions bargained. I heard some with Quinn Benefits. Quinn is also pensionable as is lon- while securing others. This is bargaining, so you give a
officers saying that we should have held out for lesser time gevity, but those with Quinn will obviously retire with more little, you get a little. The City wanted control over your
on the residency. I’m not sure many of these officers would per month. I would encourage all without Quinn to make personal days and discretionary sick days. They also wanted
have been crazy about standing on the picket line so soon an effort to get a degree before they retire. Some of our to add overlapping shifts which would have circumvented
after the last contract which brought us to forced binding members will realize two increases from longevity as a overtime. The City wanted to place GPS devices in all the
arbitration. To add insult to injury, the same person that result of this contract. The first two thousand for those of- cars. There was so much we could have lost by going to
turned on us during the DNC and switched his vote which ficers with ten years who had no longevity at all as a result arbitration, but your bargaining unit stood steadfast and
placed us in court, would have been one of the people hear- of a locked in date. These same officers when they hit twenty delivered, and for that they should be applauded. I heard to
ing our arbitration had we chose that course. Anyway you years will receive another two thousand dollar increase. much I, I, I, and me, me, me. This contract should not have
rolled the dice in front of this back-stabber would have These increases amount to close to 7% for these officers been about residency versus non-residency, or Quinn vercome up snake-eyes. You can’t win when the deck is stacked. and is well deserved. The BPPA bargaining unit was ask- sus non-Quinn. Why can’t half-a-loaf be enough for evLongevity was an issue for many of our members who ing for full Quinn benefits which would have a had a dra- eryone? It should never be about what is good for one indiare without Quinn Bill benefits. There were some mem- matic effect on overtime rates, but unfortunately the City vidual or group, it should be always for the good of the
bers who as a result of a locked-in date on the last contract would not go for it.
whole.

Going above and beyond

I

By Mark A. Bruno
thought it would be nice to acknowledge
a few individuals who always seem to
be helping others out in one form or another. I first want to acknowledge Captain
Frank Armstrong, who along with his two
teenage sons, Frank, 15, and John, 13,
climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. How
many kids can say they spent their Summer vacation climbing one of the highest
points in the world? For those who know
Captain Armstrong they will tell you that
he often does things on a whim that is nothing short of spectacular to the average person.
It’s not so much his accomplishment, like
climbing Mount Kilimanjaro as it his dedication to Cops for Kids with Cancer. This
organization was started by Captain Dow
in 2001, who himself was a cancer survivor, but unfortunately succumbed to the
disease the past February. Captain
Armstrong thought it would be nice to raise
funds for the cause by taking this trek up
the mountain. He brought with him a Cop
for Kids with Cancer T-shirt, and a Mass
card for Captain Dow. This is a four to fiveday climb that is not for the faint at heart.
The summit is 20,000 feet above sea level.
The Captain and his sons reached Uhuru
Peak which is the highest point in Africa.
All this to raise money for charity is what I
would call going above and beyond. All
three of these individuals should be ac-

knowledged. With that being said I ask that
all my fellow officers kindly make a donation to Cops for Kids with Cancer, P.O.
Box 850956, Braintree, MA 02085.
The next person I would like to acknowledge is Police Officer Gail Carnes of District-11. Her dedication to autistic research

?
?
?
?

Page B2 • PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007

over the past few years has been truly a labor of love. She began an organization
called Matthew’s Mavericks named after
her son. Through this organization she has
been able to raise funds to help combat the
disease. Anyone who knows Gail will tell
you how dedicated and near and dear to her

heart this cause is. Having an autistic
nephew myself, I am well aware of the commitment and dedication that parents of children who suffer from this disease make. For
her total dedication to this cause I applaud
Gail Carnes. With that being said, I would
like to remind everyone that on September 15, 2007 at Florian Hall in Dorchester,
Gail will be raising funds once again in the
name of Autism Research. This event will
be a trivia night with tables of teams that
will compete against each other. If you
would like to enter a team there will be flyers going around with information on how
much and who to call. If you do not attend
please by a ticket anyway to help support
the cause.
The last individual I would like to thank
for her efforts in any cause, and who is always helping in one way or another is Police Officer Rita Foley. Anyone that knows
Rita will agree that quiet as a church mouse
does not describe her. What they will tell
you are she is dedicated to her friends and
family, and she is the first to open up her
purse and write a check for any good cause.
When asked to help with these causes you
will find her literally taking the bull by the
horns and single handedly running some of
these events herself. You will find Rita at
Trivia Night on September 15 at Florian
Hall helping out her good friend Gail
Carnes.
617-989-BPPA (2772)

Per typical – wasted time and effort

I

By Kevin Doogan
n the case of the recent Detective Test
scandal, the Department has once again
missed the boat. The Detective Test was,
and is the perfect opportunity for the Department to craft an exam that would better
educate every officer who applied themselves to study for it.
Unlike Civil Service promotional tests,
this exam could be built Boston-specific,
and detective-specific. This test should have
been weighted heavily in several critical
subjects and it wasn’t. This test should have
left everyone who studied for it a better
police officer and a more conscientious officer with regards to crime scene preservation, evidence recognition and witness identification, separation and preservation. This
exam should have had been laden with relevant Constitutional Law questions, report
writing, affidavits and court procedures.
This test should have been built by the best
and brightest with relevant information to
help officers in the street.
The Boston Police Department has a
great number of highly qualified investigators, men and women whom other Law
Enforcement Agencies reach out to as experts, yet the Department apparently chose
to hand pick and utilize other individuals, a
number of which I understand had very little
experience as a detective having just recently attained the title themselves. This
isn’t to throw dispersions on those who tried
to help, they did the best they could and should
be commended. But Department wise, please

give us a break.
The Commissioner has made public his intention to resurrect his own form of minority
quotas. The rumor mill tells the story of the
Commissioner’s intention to weigh heavily his
“discretionary points” to insure the first class
of detectives meets his vision of the Department.
Normally I wouldn’t write about the rumor mill, but this is the same rumor mill
that exposed the underhanded dealings regarding what not to bother studying on the
recent test. I wonder if the powers to be are
familiar with the long history of reverse discrimination suits that have plagued the
courts as a result of overzealous policy
makers with their own personal agenda. The
Department shows their true colors again
and again by setting officers up for failure,
but back to the test. When I heard the test
was scrapped because inside information
had been leaked I wasn’t all too surprised.
However when it came out which one
of the books from the Detective’s exam
study list was excluded, now that was unnerving. This Department dumped millions
of dollars into the Identification Unit and
hand picked a Crime Scene Unit to assist in
the processing of crime scenes, a job normally done by and or under the direction of
a detective. The crime scene squad was purportedly formed to, among other things, free
up detectives to interview witnesses and
interrogate suspects, and this is the book
they leave off the test. Brilliant!
Once again the Department proves it

doesn’t have a clue what it’s doing and
they’re just pompous enough to shout it
from a podium. I look forward to the abundance of writing fodder being supplied, just
when you thought we had turned a corner,
we get left in the lurch.
In closing, it shouldn’t have to be said,
but here it is. We’re here to serve, protect,

deter, and solve crimes.
If anyone is here looking to make sociological experiments, or further their own
racist agenda, I suggest you resign your
appointment, and run for office. We’re not
about race or gender here; we’re about public service, law enforcement, integrity, competence and quality.

Life’s precious moments
By Mark A. Bruno
y recent vacation at a lake up in
Maine turned into a retreat of
sorts. As police officers we find
our lives are usually chaotic and fast paced.
Most of us do not slow down to enjoy some
of the finer things in life. When was the last
time you visited an art museum or had an
afternoon picnic on the Esplanade or Boston Common? I know this sounds a little
cozy for most of us, and maybe I’m waxing philosophical, but a little break in the
action can be good for the soul. This little
break in the action at a slow paced resort is
just what the doctor ordered.
What I thought would be boring and
mundane turned into a very nice time. With
friends and family around the time went by
quickly. I enjoyed fishing with my eightyear-old son Robert. I took him kayaking
and rented a motor boat which he got to
drive. We swam around the lake and looked
for sea shells. We helped to build what hopefully becomes the biggest sand-castle in the
world, and this was to help raise money for

M

a charitable cause. We enjoyed campfires
and roasting marshmallows to make smores.
It was a nice leisurely pace and I soaked it
all in.
For my teenage daughter (whose name I
cannot mention) the trip was like a scene
from Paris Hilton in The Simple Life. No
computer for My Space chatter really put a
damper on her social life. No text messaging on the cell-phone was the last straw for
this unhappy camper. : (
Eventually she made friends and managed to have somewhat of a good time.
The highlight of this trip came the last
night we were there. The resort ran a talent
show for all the kids to participate in. These
children ranged in ages from about three
years to young teens. I applauded all these
kids whose parents watched them with pride
and joy. It takes a lot for kids to get up in
front of a room full of total strangers and
sing their hearts out. Some sang, some
danced, and some told jokes. It was a nice
variety show for these kids who were just
(continued on page B11)

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617-989-BPPA (2772)

Wake Up America! It is a religious war
(continued from page B1)
cultures, backgrounds and religions, (yes I
said it again, RELIGION), could actually
co-exist in what we laughingly refer to as
society.
Wake up America; it’s time to stop with
the politically correct version of life. It’s
time for governments and people around the
world to call it like it is, A Religious War!
Stop trying to NOT OFFEND, and speak
out against the murderous bastards that hide
behind a religion.
Please realize, the only constant in all of
these attacks against mainstream society is
a claim to the Muslim faith, not race, not
nationality, not origin, but supposed religious beliefs. Demand that the legitimate
Muslims of the world speak out against
these terrorists that hide behind a religion
and claim to be following the only ‘Interpretation’ of the Koran that is possible.
Demand that Muslim majority countries

officials try and deal with the murderous
acts of a minority hiding within a religion.
We the masses have to stand up and be
counted, we as a people must speak directly
to the Muslims and DEMAND that they
clean their own house and root out the Evil
that has taken a firm hold of their religion!
Even if you believe that the Muslims have
been at odds with world religions for centuries, this behavior is no longer acceptable.
If the Catholic religion can be brought to
task over a minority of its’ leaders and
priests acting out in unacceptable behavior,
then why are we afraid to speak out against
Muslims? If the Jews are to be spoken about
and brought to task over events within their
own country, then why is the world society
so afraid to speak to the Muslim problem?
Even in witchcraft, their sacred books and
teachings do not advocate violence and
death to non-believers! I cannot think of a
single religious group that advocates for physical abuse or
death to non-believers other
The world community has a
some individuals interbad habit of allowing things to than
pretation of the Muslim faith.
These select individuals
fester to a boil before acting.
control the hearts and minds
Such is the case now when we of many within their religion
examine terrorist states the like and have created cults within
their own religion; they themof Iran and Syria. Just because
selves have perverted their rea group of fanatics take over a ligion and are wreaking havoc
across the globe. The Muslims
country, this doesn’t mean
themselves, must break away
they represent the majority.
from these extremists, must
root out the terrorists within
seek out and destroy these murderous ter- their own Mosques and religious schools.
rorists where ever they hide. If the Muslim The Muslims themselves must break the
religion wishes to co-exist in the twenty- backs of these groups from within! Withfirst century with the rest of main stream out the Muslim community at large, consociety, if Muslims actually want to be stantly speaking out against terrorism within
viewed by the world-at-large as legitimate, its’ own ranks, the religion is doomed, bethen the mainstream Muslims MUST stand cause sooner or later, the world population
up and condemn the actions of the extrem- will no longer stand idly by and watch inists! If the Muslim religion is to survive as nocents be murdered in the streets.
a legitimate religion, then the Muslims
The world community has a bad habit
MUST take this stand now!
of allowing things to fester to a boil before
Root out the extremists; give up the mur- acting. Such is the case now when we exdering terrorists, no matter what title they amine terrorist states the like of Iran and
pretend to hold within your religion. Do not Syria. Just because a group of fanatics take
allow yourselves to be led around like sheep over a country, this doesn’t mean they repto slaughter. Do not allow your children to resent the majority. Every legitimate study
be used as pawns in their game of death! and pole conducted within these supposed
Over the ages different religious zealots religious countries shows that the majority
have come to power within different reli- of Muslims living there want reform. In the
gions. These individuals and the groups that new age of nuclear weaponry, suit case
they represented have all fallen by the way- bombs and the willingness of mentally chalside; this is due to the individual religions lenged fanatics seeking out their ‘just rethemselves policing their own. The indi- wards’, eco-terrorism and chemical-biologividual religions themselves, taking up the cal threats, the world society and this counfight for peaceful co-existence! A complete try in particular, can no longer afford to
cleansing if you wish, conducted by the in- stand idly by and wait for events to unfold.
dividuals within those respective religions.
At the risk of sounding redundant, we
Whether it was the Hebrews, the Chris- must demand of the Muslim communities
tians or the Hindus, they have all evolved around the world to step up to the plate and
as legitimate mainstream religions due to cleanse themselves of the miscreant terrorchange and self-policing. The Buddhists ist bastards that would destroy our world!
have changed their ways over the centuries We can no longer afford the luxury of ‘Poto ensure acceptance in a modern world litical Correctness.’
society. After all, we do now live in a World
Insist that our leaders around the world
Society. We as a world society can no longer make these demands of the Muslims, withstand idly by and watch inept government out fear of reprisal or political backlash. If
www.bppa.org

the Muslim community does not step up to
the plate now and correct their internal Religious War, then it will assuredly become
a Global Religious War.

Oh, and by the way, just in case I got it
all wrong, “Salaam Malaccan, My
Brother” and please don’t “pluck out my
eye!”

Letters from the Editor:

Liquarry Jefferson and
his Mom
Dear Editor,
After reading the letter “Liquarry
Jefferson and his Mom” by Claire Weiss
of Brookline (7/9/07), I didn’t know
whether to simply dismiss Claire as but
another naïve liberal or throw up. Weiss
draws a surreal portrait of Lakeisha
Gadson and her poor (now deceased) son
Liquarry attending an artsy-craftsy festival
in Jamaica Plain, making little lanterns to
float on Lake Hibiscus. From her account,
Lakeisha should have Mother-of-the-Year
honors bestowed upon her.
It was reported that Lakeisha had seven
children with five different fathers, one of
whom is a convicted murderer, the others
being less than gainfully employed.

Lakeisha’s family derives their support from
subsidized housing, welfare, WIC vouchers and a variety of taxpayer-supported social services. And she initially lied to the
police about what really happened to
Liquarry to protect herself.
Irresponsible parenting killed 8 year old
Liquarry, along with the illegal handgun
Lakeisha’s other criminal son had brought
to the house. Weiss, and all other likeminded liberals, would do well to occasionally visit the real world, stop floating lanterns on lakes, and stop rationalizing irresponsible behavior.
James W. Carnell
BPPA Representative, Area A-1

Response to “Exam scam
cheats us all”
Dear Editor,
As a 25-year veteran Boston police officer, I take exception to your assertion that
“merit” – and not a written exam- should
be the determining factor in attaining a
detective’s rating (that’s rating, not “promotion”). In the politically-infested Boston
Police Department, “merit” may be interpreted as either: A.) he/she who has donated
to the right politician’s campaign, or B.) he/
she who has ingratiated themselves to their
supervisor. Before the detective’s exam was
instituted back in 1987 (flawed though it
may be), anybody who had been appointed
to serve 12 months in an investigative ca-

pacity qualified for a detective’s rating.
Those appointments were allegedly conferred by “merit.” Unfortunately, in practical reality, some servile flatterers who
couldn’t find kielbasa in Warsaw “made the
grade” by fetching coffee, bootlicking the
right boss, or other alternative means.
“Merit” sounds good, but like beauty, it is a
term subject to the eye of the beholder;
hence the need for at least the appearance
of fairness and objectivity for our members
via a written test.
James W. Carnell
Representative, BPPA, Area A-1

Why police pursuits
are necessary
Dear Editor,
As a 25-year Boston Police veteran officer, I read with interest the front page Boston Globe article of Monday, August 6th,
2007 entitled “After chase, police find body
of girl, 7.” According to various published
accounts, the chase reached speeds approaching 100 MPH and began only after
police “observed the suspect speeding and
driving erratically.”
I applaud wholeheartedly the Quincy,
Weymouth and Braintree police who risked
their lives, chased and captured the suspect,
Ryan Bois, a walking advertisement for the
death penalty if ever there was one. But the
thought occurred to me: if Bois was observed in Boston “only” operating errati-

cally and speeding (the police had no knowledge at the time there was a dead child in
his car), the pursuit would have been called
off under the policy instituted by former PC
Paul Evans – and supported by subsequent
Globe editorials.
Police don’t know why people are trying to escape; they may have a suspended
license or they may have a dead, raped child
in their car. But criminals alone should be
held accountable from all that results from
their illegal flight. This incident proves why
Boston’s pursuit policy only benefits criminals.
James W. Carnell
BPPA Representative, Area A-1

PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007 • Page B5

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Page B6 • PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007

617-989-BPPA (2772)

Establishment of the Tactical Patrol Force
By Jay V. Barry
McNamara came one day for his own per- when eight German shepherd dogs were ing intoxicated, sitting in a doorway, with
hen the Tactical Patrol Force was sonal inspection and applauded the men donated by Germany to the Department, in money sticking out of their pockets for anybeing formed in the late fall of who had worked so diligently to make the addition to a German trainer. In addition the one passing by to see and thus. become a
1962, the late Superintendent quarters as neat and as clean as they ap- services of Sergeant John Coyne, a retired potential target for them, This program,
John T. Howland went about the process peared. He did make comment on the con- canine trainer from the Providence Police copied from that of New York Police Deof interviewing alt officers who would vol- dition of the windows, which were still filthy Department became a vital part of the partment, was always fraught with problems
unteer for that type of an assignment fol- on the outside noting that he had signed T.P.F.’s canine training corps.
with legal defenses of entrapment and dislowing the issuance of a department-wide contracts to have all those windows washed
After the canines were put on patrol with trict personnel’s legitimate concerns over
bulletin. Originally, the preference was to twice a year. inside and out Someone ap- their handlers in cage-enclosed marked po- the “bum” in the doorway and not knowing
have officers at least six feet tall and to offer parently forgot to tell the company holding lice station wagons, a call for their services that he was a member of the department So
inducements to join the new corps, the contract that District One had a third might be made by a District officer to search while never an advocate of that program, it
interviewees were promised a wealth of paid floor Eventually, they were cleaned and the a building or for some other reason where a didn’t last that long here to make any sort
details, more then they would
of rational judgments.
ever want, and the type of de- It was not an easy transition for the original members of the T.P.F.
Of course history will show
tail would be the choicest of
the important part the T.P.F.
to make that transition from being a “bastard” outfit with no home played in the massive student
the choice.
Now John Howland was to one where district officers were pleased and eager to see you.
anti-war demonstrations of the
a man of dignity and honor
late 60’s and 70’s and the role
and when he said such a thing, the writer is new quarters were welcomed by the mem- canine could be put to good use.
it played in the protection of President John
sure that he meant absolutely every word. bers of the newly established Force.
Lieutenant Hanlon was riding with Sgt. F. Kennedy when he came to Boston so
However…as things were to develop, when
Without any patrol cars assigned to the Coyne one night when the dispatcher called frequently to see his son, Patrick, who was
the number of potential volunteers did not Unit, officers were assigned to patrol on foot for a Canine Unit, and barking from other born ill and confined to the Children’s Hospimeet the desired height and build that was and the established hours of operation were infantile officers in other cars could be tal and who was to die shortly after being born.
initially wanted and hoped for, those opt- from 7:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M. Lieutenant plainly heard. Lieut. Hanlon, somewhat emI must close the story of the Tactical Paing for this new type of assignment and who John T. Hanlon, later to become a Cap- barrassed to have a person not a member of trol Force with a very sour note. Despite
showed the willingness and honest desire tain, was the first Commanding Officer of the Department hear the juvenile rantings those alluring promises of John Howland
to become an important part of the new force the T.P.F. A very serious but extremely dedi- over the air, before he could say a word, about getting the best and most coveted dewere selected. The lure of the best paid de- cated member of the Department, he felt had Sergt. Coyne inform him that the same tails in the city, the officers main available
tails in the City still was out there as bait, the same disappointment as the other offic- thing happened in Providence when their details were in the Combat Zone in “Izzy
however.
ers over the initial lack of quarters, the con- Canine Corps was first established but that Orts’” Cafe, the Novelty and similar lovely
As you might expect, some, not all, of dition of the building when a location was it passed after a while and it would up here, nightspots where you would love to take
those who signed up to join the T.P.F. did found, and the limited productivity you also, he added. And so it did.
your wife for a night out. I must inform you,
so not so much out of a desire to become a could expect from officers assigned to foot
Later on, a small group of plain clothes too, that the pay scale for doing those depromising member as much as it was to get patrol, primarily in the now defunct “Com- officers were added to the Unit. some work- tails, or any detail, was at the lucrative rate
out of there old assignment, whether it be bat Zone” and the Grove Hall section of ing on the Anti-Crime Unit Some were sent of $2.00 per hour with a four hour miniin the boondocks, City Prison, the turret or Roxbury, during the bitter cold winter out as “decoys” in somewhat shabby clothes mum. So have you come a long way? Be
some other one of which they had their fill. months, which at that time it was and a bit- to work in high crime areas, posing as be- thankful and be careful.
When it was officially established on terly cold winter at that.
December 5, 1962, it was composed of a
As has been said, Rome was not built in
force of about 65 volunteers and was to a day and neither was the Tactical Patrol (continued from page B1)
be a uniformed force to respond to areas Force. Radio patrol cars were not in abunAmerican politics supporting Israel and/or to the families of those who perished on 9of high crime or such other areas of the dance and it was not until an arrangement
supporting various and sundry Middle-east- 11.
city where an increased police presence was worked out with the Traffic Division,
ern despots. The bottom line in their reaBut in all seriousness, please don’t alwas needed. You might say it was the primarily a day operation, were their cars,
soning remains, as always, that America is low yourself to forget about what happened
uniformed patrol arm of the department used by their supervisors during the day, to
responsible for 9-11 because we weren’t on that terrible day. Watch a televised reoperating citywide, or a counterpart of be available for use by the T.P.F. at night.
very nice to the peace-loving people of play of what happened. Listen to the recordmany of the detective units operating out of
When those cars did become available
Gaza, Syria, Iran or Iraq who cut off the ings of the poor people who called for help
Police Headquarters.
for use, three officers were assigned to each
heads of the infidel non-believers and send as they awaited their fate in burning towers
Disillusionment soon set in when the Or- car so more than adequate manpower could
6 year-old children strapped with explosives or saved our Capitol building while pasder was issued establishing and making of- be dispatched to the scene of a riot or tuto kill Jews attending weddings and Bar- sengers on flight 93. Remember that the savficial the birth of the Tactical Patrol Force. mult, should the occasion warrant.
Mitzvahs. Personally, I’d rather suffer the age animals who attacked us September
One of the main problems, it was to be
Many districts were not that happy to see
“torture” of having a pair of underwear put 11th, 2001 are still out there. Millions of
found, was that there was no location speci- the T.P.F. patrol and “invade” their territory,
on my head while a clown-photo was taken them want to “kill the infidels: translation:
fied in advance as to where they would be not that is until all hell broke loose and their
by goof-off guards at Abu-Ghraib prison you and I who don’t adhere to their warped
quartered. To furnish time to get those quar- help was eagerly sought and welcomed.
than have my head cut off like Daniel Pearl beliefs. And millions more – who might not
ters, all the officers attended several weeks And dispatching two or three cars with three
or a multitude of other non-believing infi- publicly advocate the killing of the Jews and
of a physical training regimen in the Bos- men in each made a formidable appearance
dels, but, of course, I’m a stupid conserva- all infidels- nod their heads in quiet agreeton Athletic Club in South Boston. In the when the cars arrived at the scene of the
tive, what do I know....
ment or remain quiet with a smirk on their
meantime, the third floor of Old District disturbance and the incident quickly
And on the right-wing nut side of the faces, much like the silent majority of GerOne on North Street in the North End was quelled.
equation, we have a wide variety of kooks mans did while Hitler plotted his holocaust.
selected as a location that might be suitable
So it was not an easy transition for the
expounding conspiracy theories about how They are not impressed by our quaint, foolto serve as quarters for the new force. That original members of the T.P.F. to make that
George Bush, Dick Cheney, Haliburton ish, Western notions of justice, truth, fairfloor, from its initial appearance, looked like transition from being a “bastard” outfit with
and the Israeli embassy either knew about ness, peace and love. They want to kill you.
nobody had been up there since the station no home to one where district officers were
9-11 before it happened and failed to warn Do you understand? THEY WANT TO
was built. Filth, cobwebs, windows that you pleased and eager to see you. And it didn’t
people or (GASP!) actually planned it. Yes, KILL YOU. Catholic nuns aren’t hijackcould not see through, dirt everywhere was happen overnight so it is to the credit of
perhaps the best thing that could happen ing airplanes and dive-bombing into buildhow that ‘select’ location appeared. Custo- those original members of the T.P.F. who
would be for Cindy Sheehan and her Hol- ings in New York. Buddhist monks aren’t
dians and member of the TPF who volun- were determined to persevere and prove
lywood nut-followers to be locked in a room chopping heads off of construction workteered for the assignment, cleaned that place their worth, did the coldness with District
with the John Birch Society and assorted ers in Iraq. Jewish rabbis aren’t equipping
up in a couple of weeks and made it appear personnel subside and the warmth of caother right-wing kooks and let them all kill their babies with bombs and sending them
habitable.
maraderie become established.
each other. All Americans would surely into crowded markets. Radical Islamic savFloors were washed and waxed and then
As time passed, a Canine Unit was to
benefit, and perhaps it could be televised at ages ARE. Get that through your heads, and
Police Commissioner Edmund L later become an integral part of the unit
a nominal price, with the proceeds devoted you will understand 9-11.

W

It’s almost September 11th

www.bppa.org

PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007 • Page B7

Another candidate for the Neville Chamberlain Society –
Senator Barack Obama, come on down!
By Patrick Carnell,
Canisius College, Buffalo, NY
EVILLE CHAMBERLAIN
(1869-1940) became England’s
prime minister in May, 1937.
Along with Joseph Kennedy, (yes, the scion
of the great Massachusetts liberal family)
US Ambassador to Britain under the
Roosevelt administration, Chamberlain believed that Germany had gotten a raw deal
following World War 1. Chamberlain also
believed that there was “much to admire”
about the pre-war regime of Adolf Hitler,
despite overwhelming evidence of repression, state-sponsored violence, and the establishment of concentration camps
(Dachau was the first known, but many
more were already under construction or
being planned).
In September, 1938, Chamberlain signed
the infamous “Munich agreement”, which
gave control of the Sudetenland, part of the
sovereign nation of Czechoslovakia, to
Hitler’s Germany (he would subsequently
seize effective control of the rest of that
country in March 1939). Chamberlain flew
home to England and, waving a piece of
paper signed by Hitler and Mussolini, declared that he had achieved “peace in our
time”. The name of Neville Chamberlain
has since become synonymous with appeasement and acquiescence to one’s enemies....
AND SO, with that introduction, let us

N

welcome the newest member of
assorted useful
the Neville Chamberlain sociidiots in the meety.... ILLINOIS SENATOR
dia, they gushed
BARACK OBAMA... come on
about the marveldown! Senator Obama is being
ous “free” Cuban
honored due to his recent statehealth care sysments that he would meet and
tem and railed
negotiate with tyrant dictators
about the evil
like Cuba’s Fidel Castro,
United States and
Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and
the evil George
Iran’s Mahmoud AmadeniBush and the evil
jiad. (The correct spelling might
trade embargo ad
be off, but don’t worry – he’s a
nauseum. If I had
kook).
the luxury of
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
The Senator who would be
holding a microPresident of these United States would meet phone in front of these frauds, I would have
with Fidel Castro? Castro has maintained asked the obvious questions, such as: “So
iron-fisted control of the “worker’s para- why return to the evil US” (you worthless
dise” of Cuba since 1959. Cuba remains scumbags-on-welfare-posing-as-internamired in third-world poverty, and thousands tional-emissaries)? “Why not stay in the
try to flee by any means possible every year “worker’s paradise”? “Why do so many
by crossing the treacherous 90 miles sepa- people try to flee from Cuba in makeshift
rating it from Florida. Castro blames all of boats and attempt to cross shark-infested
Cuba’s ills on the evil USA and our trade waters to reach the evil US”? “How come
embargo, despite the fact that he trades Castro’s worker’s heaven continues to fail
freely with almost every other country in despite being able to trade with every other
the world. Recently, the news in my col- country in the world except the US”? Of
lege hometown of Buffalo carried a fluff- course, we already know the answers to
piece about a cadre of alleged US citizens these questions, but it’s so much easier to
crossing the “Peace Bridge” (how apropos!) blame the US, n’est ce pas?
from Canada to the US. The battalion of
And Senator Barack would sit down and
red-shirted phonies had just returned from talk with Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, the dara trip to the worker’s paradise. Posing for ling of the American left? Hugo, you may
the pre-arranged, fawning TV cameras and remember, appeared at the United Nations

(those marvelous folks who brought us the
Iraq “Oil-for-food” scandal featuring the
son of then-UN President Kofi Annan)
claiming that George Bush was “the Devil.”
Hugo has been busy shutting down all opposition newspapers and TV stations in Venezuela, much like Adolf Hitler did in prewar Germany. Those TV stations still on
the air are forced to carry Hugo’s lengthy
political speeches extolling the virtues of
himself and excoriating the US as the
world’s villain.
And Senator Obama would have a long
talk with Iran’s nutcase Amadinijead?
You’ve got to be kidding. This kook has
called repeatedly for the extermination of
the Jews and the sovereign state of Israel,
the only true democracy in the Middle East.
He is, without question, Islam’s answer to
Stalin and Hitler (Allah be praised). Sit
down with this mental case? Why not simply go out on the streets of Washington, DC,
find a homeless paranoid-schizophrenic,
wrap a towel on his head and negotiate peace
with him? The result would be the same...
So for being a monument to Neville’s
philosophy of appeasing and acquiescing
to one’s enemies, Senator Barack Obama
is hereby inducted into the Chamberlain
society. Congratulations, Senator. Hugo,
Fidel and Mahmoud look forward to sitting
down and “negotiating” with you. (And so
do we, if only for the comic relief it would
bring. HA....)

TRUST is key in Public Safety
and

When you are buying
or selling your home.
Call a real estate professional you can count on:
A Former Correction Officer at Nashua Street Jail.

s the old saying goes: “the more plained how he was disrespectful. Although able persons are accustomed to rely on in tion was “attempting to intervene and break
things change, the more they stay the woman was supposedly interviewed by the conduct of their affairs?” Would you buy . . . up [a fight].” He also testified the perthe same.” The Department has a I.A.D., no transcript of any interview was a used car if two strangers wrote you a let- son in question was trying to take two
people away from the scene, stating he was
new Police Commissioner, but unfortu- ever generated, and no report of any inter- ter telling you it was a god car?
“trying to pull them away.” This grand jury
nately the same old beat goes on in the po- view was ever written or offered into eviecently, the appeal hearing for this testimony conflicted with other statements
lice department’s disciplinary process. Al- dence. Two days later, a second individual
case was held before the Civil Ser- made by this witness — conflict that should
though the new Commissioner has not sten- wrote a letter to the (then) Commissioner
vice Commission. Again, the De- have been brought to the attention of the
ciled the words “abandon all faith ye who alleging that he saw a police officer yelling
enter here” over the third floor hearing room at a woman two mornings ago by Down- partment, now under the new Commis- hearing officer. When a witness earlier said
door, for all intents and purposes, that is, in town Crossing. This letter did not indicate sioner, did not call either the woman who they saw something but later says they only
my view, the message being sent out, what type of car the woman was in or what wrote the first letter (who allegedly lived heard it from someone else, that is signifiwhether the Commissioner is cognizant of the woman looked like. The letter did not out of state) or the male who wrote the sec- cant, at least in my book. Needless to say,
it or not.
give any description of the police officer, it ond letter (who had a business address of this evidence was excluded from the hearFor those of you who have not gone did not state what time in the morning this High Street in Boston). Rather than ac- ing. As I see it, the Department can throw
through the Department’s disciplinary pro- occurred, and never recounted precisely knowledging that these two letters were in- everything into evidence including the
kitchen sink, but when the
cess, you may not know
officer tries to impeach a
that under Department As I see it, the Department can throw everything into evidence
witness with prior testiRules (and State Civil
mony that was sworn to
Service Law) that “the including the kitchen sink, but when the officer tries to impeach a
under the pains and penalhearing [is] informal witness with prior testimony that was sworn to under the pains and
ties of perjury, the Departand administrative.”
penalties of perjury, the Department seeks to keep the evidence out.
ment seeks to keep the eviAlthough Rules of Evidence out. Go figure?
dence used in court are Go figure? Shouldn’t the Department be concerned about finding the
not applied, evidence truth? If so, then shouldn’t all witnesses be interviewed, and all facts — Shouldn’t the Department
be concerned about finding
“which reasonable perthe truth? If so, then
sons are accustom to favorable and unfavorable — be included in reports.
shouldn’t all witnesses be
rely on and the conduct
of their affairs may be considered” under where in the Downtown Crossing area this sufficient to go forward in the hearing be- interviewed, and all facts — favorable and
Department Rule 109, §59. This standard alleged incident occurred. In short, there fore the Civil Service Commission, the Le- unfavorable — be included in reports.
At this recent hearing, there was testiof evidence, in my opinion, has recently was no definitive evidence to indicate that, gal Advisor’s office forged ahead with the
been taken to shameful new lows by B.P.D. if this man even saw such an incident, that hearing. By offering merely two letters, the mony from a Sergeant at a very chaotic
Staff Attorneys. It is as if this Rule has been he was describing the same incident the officer was denied his rightful opportunity scene that an off duty officer did not assist
re-written to read “any evidence that helps woman complained of. Like with this to explore these alleged witnesses’ self-in- him in trying to break up a number of large
the Department is admissible, and any evi- woman, no report of any interview of this terest, their motives to lie and their ability fights involving the officer’s children. The
dence that helps the officer is disregarded letter-writing man was ever generated, and to perceive and to recollect. The officer Sergeant who testified to this acknowledged
no transcript of any interview from this man could not explore issues of bias, and could that he had no concept of time or sequence
and hereby excluded.”
not even ask quite simply if the (alleged) during this incident, and in fact he did not
Let’s start with the whole set up of the was ever provided to anyone.
The officer in question had written eight witness and the complainant knew each even notice an ambulance with emergency
Trial Board process. In court, cases are presented by a prosecutor and defendants are citations on that particular day, and wrote other. As you can see, the Department cares lights flashing arrive at the scene and park
represented by a defense attorney, but the an average of 80 to 100 per month. When nothing about fairness as exemplified by fact right next to him. While this was going on,
person conducting the proceeding is a neu- interviewed about these allegations at In- it went forward with such shoddy evidence. a Captain with Boston EMS arrived and
At another recent hearing before the offered testimony that directly contradicted
tral and detached judge. In the BPD Trial ternal Affairs three months after the inciBoard setting, the case is presented by a dent, he could not recall the particular cita- Department Hearing Officer, the same one- this Sergeant — that the officer in question
BPD Staff Attorney to — get this — a func- tion but stated that he would not have yelled sided tactics continued. While fighting with was trying to break up fights, and gave three
tionary of their client, a member of the BPD at the woman. One would like to believe one hand tied behind my back, the Depart- examples of this conduct where the officer
Command Staff. Basically, it’s the same as that the testimony of a police officer who ment offered a one-sided, uncross-examined physically engaged combatants. The Capif an Assistant District Attorney prosecuted wrote over 1,000 citations a year and re- statement from a witness who lives a mere tain from EMS gave this information to the
a case and the D.A. himself sat as the Judge. ceived only one complaint would be more 2.18 miles (according to Mapquest) from Internal Affairs investigator by phone, but
Now add to this the fact that the Hearing credible than the unsworn, untested evi- the police station. Numerous inconsisten- the information never made its way into any
Officer is passing judgment on an I.A.D. dence contained in these two letters. A dis- cies in this witness’ tape-recorded statement written reports. A face-to-face interview
decision that has been approved by some- ciplinary hearing was held on this case sev- were pointed out, but the mere (alleged) fact with this Captain from EMS was scheduled
one with their same rank as Deputy Super- eral years ago where no witnesses were that the witness had not returned the calls and postponed on several occasions, and the
intendent. Of course you can see that the called by the Department. Only the two let- of the BPD staff attorney opened the door Department simply ignored his testimony.
deck is stacked against the poor patrol of- ters from the woman and the man were of- for this interview transcript to come in to In fact, the Sergeant who was at the scene
fered, and the officer denied yelling at the evidence. On the other hand, when a live testified that the Internal Affairs investigaficers in these hearings.
By way of recent example, an officer in woman. Despite a Police Department rule witness from the Police Department was tor told him that the EMS Captain refused
the Downtown Crossing area gave a mo- (Rule 109, §60) that witnesses must be about to be impeached with his grand jury to testify. Low and behold, at the hearing
torist a citation for driving down an excluded sworn in when testifying, and that each side testimony — given under oath about the — and under oath — the EMS Captain said
way she entered by driving around a big shall have the opportunity to cross-exam- very matter at hand — the Department ob- that was not true and that he never refused
blue Boston Police Department sawhorse, ine all witnesses, in the lopsided world of jected to this evidence because of “grand to be interviewed. Perhaps his testimony
after which she ignored two signs indicat- BPD trial boards, the two letters were found jury secrecy.” From a grand jury that fin- was ignored because it didn’t fit neatly into
ing vehicles were excluded from Downtown to be more credible than the police officer. ished sitting six and a half years ago? How the Department’s case. Perhaps a level playCrossing. The woman wrote a letter to the How can a police officer, who regularly tes- laughable is that? Before the grand jury ing field is not what the Department seeks.
Mayor and to the (former) Commissioner tifies in court about arrests they have made, some five weeks after the incident, the Ser- What is good for the goose is certainly not
complaining that the officer yelled at her often in cases where criminal defendants geant in question was asked what he saw. good for the gander. Abandon all hope, ye
and made her cry. This woman never said go to jail, not be believed by their own De- He answered the question about what he who come here. The more things change,
the officer swore at her or otherwise ex- partment? Is this evidence “which reason- saw by stating the off-duty officer in ques- the more they remain the same.

he Massachusetts Supreme Judicial money for the Town, which is required by and ruled that municipalities may ban post- plans – even if the employees have more
Court, which is rarely friendly to the state law to insure employees working at retirement enrollment in their health insur- affordable or more comprehensive options
interests of police officers and pub- least 20 hours a week. This savings to the ance programs. While Massachusetts has through their spouses. Instead of saving
lic sector unions, handed municipalities a Town totaled a low six-figures throughout worked tirelessly to increase health care $10-15,000 in health care costs per embig pair of scissors to cut health care costs her lengthy public service. Sometime after coverage for its residents, the SJC now lets ployee per year for their employers, public
– by letting them deny coverage to retirees Ms. Cioch and her husband retired, they lost municipal employers go in the opposite di- employees now have every incentive to ennot enrolled in a municipal plan at the time access to his health insurance. Ms. Cioch, rection and reduce coverage. This decision roll in costly municipal health care plans,
of retirement. While this decision is an im- who never cost a dime in health care ex- is cruel to an unknown number of public thereby increasing the employer’s financial
mediate setback for public
burden. As a result, the
employees, the decision in
Cioch decision arguWe are not aware of the City denying coverage to retirees who were SJC’s
Cioch v. Treasurer of
ably accelerates the health
Ludlow (August 10, 2007) not enrolled at the time they left the Department. Nonetheless, to
care budgetary crisis faced
ultimately may be a case of “be protect your rights in case this policy changes in the future, you
by municipal employers.
careful what you wish for.” In
We are not aware of the
the long-term, the decision should consult with the City’s insurance contact prior to retirement
City denying coverage to relikely will increase health care to ask about coverage during retirement. You also may consider
tirees who were not enrolled
costs for public employers.
at the time they left the DeMassachusetts law on enrolling in a City health care plan sometime before leaving the
partment. Nonetheless, to
municipal health insurance, department, even if you are eligible for, or already enrolled in,
protect your rights in case
Chapter 32B, §§9 & 16, rethis policy changes in the
your spouse’s plan.
quires employers to continue
future, you should consult
providing health care coverwith the City’s insurance
age to employees after they retire. The is- penditures to the Town, then sought such employee retirees who politely declined contact prior to retirement to ask about covsued faced by the SJC in Cioch is whether benefits from Ludlow. In the meantime, coverage from their employer throughout erage during retirement. You also may concities and towns can deny coverage to retir- Ludlow had adopted a regulation denying their career in an effort to save money for sider enrolling in a City health care plan
ees who were not enrolled in a municipal coverage to retirees who were not insured all parties.
sometime before leaving the department,
plan at retirement. The Supreme Judicial at the time of retirement. Ms. Cioch had no
This decision spares public employers even if you are eligible for, or already enCourt ruled that cities and towns can do so. opportunity to qualify for the regulation of the expense of retirees not previously rolled in, your spouse’s plan.
The case involved 68-year-old Joanne because the Town passed the regulation af- enrolled in health insurance plans. But it’s
Employees who quit or are terminated
Cioch, who retired after 22 years of teach- ter she retired. Despite being saved tens of a case of municipal managers being penny- prior to being eligible for retirement – a class
ing for the Town of Ludlow. During her thousands of dollars over the years by Ms. wise and pound foolish as the SJC decision of employees known as “deferred retirees”
employment with Ludlow, Ms. Cioch de- Cioch, Ludlow denied the request. She sued. likely will result in increased health care – are in an especially tricky situation. The
clined the insurance provided by the Ludlow The BPPA, through our office, filed a costs for cities and towns. This decision SJC declined to rule on how its new interand instead was covered by insurance from “friend of the court” brief in support of her encourages police officers and other public pretation of Chapter 32B affects this class.
her husband’s employer. Her decline of and other similarly situated retirees.
employees who currently are not covered Given the SJC’s track record, it is unlikely
The SJC supported Ludlow’s position by municipal plans to now enroll in City to be overly sympathetic toward employees.
Ludlow’s coverage saved considerable

Life’s Precious Moments
(continued from page B3)
having a good time. There were three acts that brought it all home for me and
put everything into perspective.
The first act was a cute little three-year-old girl with curly red hair in a
pretty red, white and blue sequined dress, who sang God Bless America. She
was forgetting some of the words, and all who attended helped her to finish it
off to rousing thunderous applause. Every parent in that room had a common
thread that bound them all together, and that was pride in being an American.
Patriotic Spirit at its best.
The next act was an older teenage boy who got up to tell jokes. This kid was
beaming with pride when he got up there, and as he began to tell his joke in a
high-pitched voice, it was obvious to all that he was autistic. Having an autistic nephew, and looking at his parents who watched with all the love their
hearts could muster, began to bring it home for me emotionally. This young
man was truly special and the crowd let him know it by giving him loud applause. He left the stage emotionally charged and excited. He was shaking
hands with everyone, and his parents gave him the biggest hug.
The last act brought the house down and tugged at everyone’s heart strings.
Two young girls, one taller then the other, got up to sing a country song. The
taller girl was bald, and it was obvious she had some type of cancer. You could
have heard a pin drop. Here was this girl singing in what may be the performance of her life. The song was a real tear-jerker and there wasn’t a dry eye in
the place. Everyone in that room knew what this song meant to this precious
girl. I looked over at my daughter whose world suddenly got smaller, as did
everyone else’s in that room. It was truly the warmest and most moving part of
the evening. I think everyone that left the room that night was saying a prayer
for this girl. This was one of life’s precious moments.
www.bppa.org

HERE’S TO THE
GOOD GUYS.
The ones we can all count on to be Rock Solid.®
At Prudential Financial, we’re proud to support
Boston’s finest—and help provide for the
educational needs of their children—
through the Boston Police Patrolmen’s
Association Scholarship Fund.

Simmons students are determined to make a difference in their families,
communities, and the world. We help them succeed. At Simmons, we honor
an educational contract that places students first — enabling them to achieve
successful careers, meaningful lives, and tangible returns on their
educational investment.
For more than 100 years, Simmons graduates have succeeded in a wide variety
of careers, including business, communications, science and health care,
international relations, and more.
Simmons College proudly supports the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association’s
Scholarship Fund for Police Officers’ Families and Boston Police Programs.
www.simmons.edu

Simmons College • Boston, MA 02115

Page B16 • PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007

SIMMONS

Learning with Purpose.

617-989-BPPA (2772)

Veterans’ Corner:

Patrick M. Rose, C-11
Boston Police VFW Post #1018

A

Remember the reservist, mother of three
entering her fourth tour of duty

hot August day sitting by the lake,
watching the world go by. Yup,
that’s where I am, and I do know
how lucky I am to be here sharing this little
slice of heaven with my family. It makes
you think though, just what a wonderful
country this is and how much we owe to
the men and woman that have sacrificed and
continue to sacrifice so that you and I can
enjoy a pleasurable vacation with our loved
ones.
As much as I am trying to relax and enjoy my surroundings, I can’t help but picture the poor ‘SOB’s’ that can’t take a vacation. The ones that are surrounded by
more sand than any ocean beach or lake
front, however without a single drop of
water to swim or frolic in. I can’t believe
my eyes when I study reports and figures
that show that our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, siblings and friends that are
in uniform in Iraq and Afghanistan are on
their third, fourth or even fifth tour of duty.
There is something inherently wrong
with our Armed Forces if we have to resort
to send a reservist and mother of three over
to Iraq on a fourth tour of duty.
What I am alluding to is the most recent
deployment report from the Department of
Defense. Talk about being connected, talk
about having an ‘IN’, it is reported that almost half of all active duty troops in the
United States military have never been de-

ployed to Iraq, Afghanistan
or surrounding countries.
During this conflict it is reported that over 400,000
troops (yes four hundred
thousand!) have been ordered to serve Multiple
Tours of Duty. At the opposite end of the spectrum
we have approximately 53%
of Active Duty Air Force
Personnel, 50% of Active
Duty Naval Personnel, 45%
of Active Duty Marine
Corps Personnel and 37% of
Active Duty Army Personnel have yet to be deployed
into the region or close to
the war zone! I don’t claim
to be genius when it comes
to political correctness, however, if you’re going attempt
to win over public support, The Boston Police Honor Guard, named “Senior Honor Guard at the Recent State Convention.
if you’re going to try and win
thinking of tasking our reserves. Approxithe hearts and minds of the tax paying pub- FOURTH TOUR!
lic to believe in the fight and believe what
I realize that in every facet of life there mately 50% of our combat trained profeswe as a country is doing over there is cor- are the haves and have nots, there will al- sionals have not yet been deployed? It’s No
rect, moral and necessary to our way of life, ways be the chosen few. You know the ones Wonder that the American Public is turnthen maybe we should be deploying the that never get dirty, the ones that talk the ing against our commitment! It’s No WonProfessional Soldier, Airman, Sailor or talk but can’t and won’t walk the walk. The der we are bickering amongst ourselves and
Marine, BEFORE SENDING THE SUP- connected few, that will advance no matter can’t come to some sort of resolution!
The United States Military is governed
POSED PART-TIME SOLDIER AND what or be placed into positions proving the
MOTHER OF THREE OVER ON HER Peter Principle. Hey, it happens every day by and answers to our Constitution! The
in every walk of life, just look Constitution was written by our fore fathers
at our own city and state gov- ensuring that the civilian population conernments. We accept that as a trols the military, not the other way around.
people, we understand that the It is time for our esteemed Congressmen
bosses golf partner or brother- and woman to actually pay attention to what
in-law deserves the cushy as- is happening to their electorate. When are
signment or promotion (wink, our politicians going to start earning their
wink, nod, nod!). But when pay and start legitimate oversight of what’s
you’re ripping civilian families going on. Instead of their daily dose of poapart, when you’re sending litical ramblings and rhetoric, the Armed
woman (mothers of children) Forces Committee should actually figure
into a battle zone for the third out: Who the hell is managing this thing!
and fourth time while half of We are systematically depleting our reserve
our active duty professional forces in this country. Our reserve force, our
forces sit in relative safety be- reserve equipment and supplies are being
hind a desk somewhere or are used improperly and expended by the curbusy at cocktail parties, I have rent active duty forces at such a rate, that
to ask the Leadership of the there will be nothing left for you, Mr. &
Armed Forces: What The Hell Mrs. U.S. Taxpayer, when disaster strikes
within our own boarders! There is absoAre You Thinking??!!
What has my country be- lutely NO EXCUSE for that percentage of
come, that we all of a sudden active duty forces to have never been defeel it’s ok to send avocation- ployed into the war zone. It doesn’t take a
alist, part-time citizen-soldiers, military strategist or genius to figure out,
mothers who have a civilian the absolute best training an active unit can
life and family, before sending have is Combat Experience. 53% of our Air
our professional full time ac- Force personnel, 50% of our Sailors, 45%
tive duty force. What happened of our Marines and 37% of our Soldiers
to the Honorable Duty bound can’t all be related to the Boss and kept out
Commanders that used to en- of harms way at the expense of Mrs. Smith,
sure all available resources mother of three, SSG E-6 U.S Army Rewere properly trained, de- serve.
ployed and equipped for any
(continued on page B22)
engagement, prior to even
Marty Columbo doing what he does best – “ELVIS COLUMBO!”
www.bppa.org

PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007 • Page B17

Visit us at www.massgeneral.org
Or call us at 617-726-2000

We are proud
to support
the hard work
and dedication
of the

Boston Police
Patrolmen’s
Association

U.S. News & World Report, Annual Guide
to America’s Best Hospitals consistently
places Massachusetts General Hospital
among the top hospitals in the country.

Page B18 • PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007

617-989-BPPA (2772)

IUPA Legal Update:

Recent decisions on representation
under Weingarten

By Aaron Nisenson,
General Counsel, I.U.P.A.
mployees with collective bargaining
rights often have a right to representation in disciplinary interviews under a doctrine called Weingarten.
Weingarten was a Supreme Court case decided under the National Labor Relations
Act (“NLRA”), which applies only to private sector employees, and generally provides employees with a right to a union representative in interviews which employees
reasonably believe could lead to discipline.
National Labor Relations Board v. J.
Weingarten, Inc., 420 U.S. 251, 95 S.Ct. 959
(1975). Because Weingarten arose under the
NLRA, law enforcement officers do not
have Weingarten rights under federal law.
Nonetheless, Weingarten is often followed
in states that have collective bargaining laws
similar to the NLRA. However, because
state collective bargaining laws differ,
whether and how Weingarten is applied to

E

T

Union Attorney Allowed As
Weingarten Representative
n a case litigated by an I.U.P.A. local,
the Appeals Court of Massachusetts re
cently affirmed a decision by the Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission
which found that a union attorney could
serve as a representative for an employee
when an employee had a right to representation under Weingarten. Sometimes employers attempt to prevent attorneys from
serving as representatives, asserting that
only union members or stewards can be
Weingarten representatives. The Massachusetts LRC and the court found that this limi-

I

tation was an unfair labor practice. However, the decision was clear that only a union
attorney, and not a personal attorney, had a
right to act as a Weingarten representative.
(Thanks to attorney Peter Peroni and
NEPBA, I.U.P.A. Local 9000 for their work
on this case.) Town of Hudson v. Labor Relations Com’n, — N.E.2d ——, 2007 WL
1990184 (Mass.App.Ct., July 12, 2007)
Employees Allowed to Choose
Union Representative
ennsylvania’s Supreme Court held
that under the state’s Public Employee Relations Act (PERA) and
the rights afforded by Weingarten, an employee has the right to a union representative of the employee’s choice as a witness
during an investigatory interview, so long
as the representative is reasonably available
and there are no extenuating circumstances.
While the court held that the right to a representative was an employee right, not a

P

union right, the Court was clear that it only
allowed the right to a union representative,
and not a personal representative. Com.,
Office of Admin. v. Pennsylvania Labor
Relations, 916 A.2d 541 (Pa., Feb. 20,
2007).
No Right to Weingarten
Representation Under New York
Collective Bargaining Law
he New York Court of Appeals held
that the state law allowing public employees to participate in a union does
not include Weingarten rights. The court
noted that Weingarten rights are based on a
section of the NLRA that provides protection for those who wish to engage in concerted activities for “mutual aid and protection.” However, the court held that because state law lacked language regarding
“mutual aid and protection,” and the state
law had a separate section providing em(continued on page B23)

T

Joe the Boss sounds off again

he above title of this article had to
be watered down from my original
thoughts. My editor, as passionate as
he is, would not let my heartfelt feelings
and eye-for-an-eye justice and choice of
words be printed.
Let me tell you what I’m outraged about.
There is or shall I say was a defendant in
Rockville, Maryland who was accused of
hideous crimes against a seven year old girl.
The defendant, Mahamu Ksanneh a
Liberian native, had the charges dismissed
by a Montgomery County Maryland Circuit Court Judge named Katherine Savage.
The Judge said the nearly three years of
delays violated the Liberian immigrant’s
rights to a speedy trial. Mind you the defendant was out on bail. Actually he spent
one night in jail and then was bailed. I hope
he wasn’t too inconvenienced.
Here is the basis of the Judge’s decision.
A court appointed psychiatrist recommended that an interpreter be appointed and
the Judges who heard the subsequent hearings followed the advice of the shrink. With
the delays on both sides it took almost three
years. What I would like to know is how
the shrink determined this. I would like to
know what type of questions the shrink
posed to the scumbag (excuse me - defendant), and in what language do you understand what they are alleging is wrong? Is it
part of your culture to commit these horrific acts on your children and infants? I
shouldn’t even mention this because his
defense team (appointed naturally) might
pick up on this and lean on it. Or maybe it
is just a sickness I have a couple of treatment plans in mind. One would be to surgically remove parts of his body that would
raise his voice several octaves, the other
would be to surgically remove a dangling
appendage, and then ship his sorry ass back
www.bppa.org

law enforcement officers varies greatly.
Additionally, officers often have equal or
greater rights under state or local officers’
bills of rights or collective bargaining agreements. (If anyone would like copies of these
cases, or if you have any questions, please
contact me.)

to the land of Vai. Let me back track for a
moment. The defendant’s native tongue is
Vai. It is a tribal language that is spoken by
an estimated 100,000 people mostly in
Liberia and Sierra Leone. Everything seems
reasonable so far.
Now comes the good part. The ex-defendant was born in Liberia but at a very
young age he moved with his family to
Guyana where he was introduced to English. Mind you this was at a very young
age. I can barely remember what childrenese I spoke at a very young age and if I could
understand any legal goings on. Guyana is
an English speaking country in South
America. I wonder how much Vai he retained. After coming to this country as a
teenager he attended high school and a community college. Given the limited amount
of people who speak Vai, I’m going to guess
he was taught English. He also assimilated
into our society by holding down a job and
dealing with the public at a gas station. Oh
by the way, the official language of Liberia
is English.
Later on when he was arrested he spoke
to detectives in English and understood the
charges. He has had phone interviews and
news conferences in English and handled
English. But when it comes to the court proceeding he leans on the “I don’t understand”
defense.
For the moment let’s get back to the
judge and her court staff. I don’t know about
Maryland but I think around here a judge
can perhaps hold his/her own inquiry besides relying on court shrinks. I mean a
judge might question the “er” defendant/
animal and determine if his is competent. It
looks like they took the easy way out. This
was no minor charge or should I say charges
because as I later learned there was also an
18 month old child involved besides the

seven year old. The more you get involved
the worse it gets although I don’t know how
much worse it can get. Early on in the court
proceedings there were interpreters but
some how they fell through the cracks and
the court could not find a “suitable” inter-

preter. I’m wondering what “suitable”
meant. Was it “suitable” for the defense?
Then there was Loretta Knight, a clerk
of the circuit court, who claims after a nationwide search that she could not find a
(continued on page B23)

Veteran’s Notes
(continued from page B17)
VETERANS EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES: I am very happy to inform you
that a bill has been presented in the Senate
which proposes to fund the full cost of college tuition, room and board, plus a stipend
of $1,000 per month to all veterans who
have served on active duty since 11 September 2001. The bill is: S.22- the post 9/
11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of
2007. This bill was put forward by Senator
Jim Webb of Virginia. The bill has currently
been referred to the Senate VA Committee.
(At least one Senator is looking out for
Veteran’s interests). In an opposite universe,
where only 13 out of 120 law makers have
ever served in the Armed Forces or had any
military experience whatsoever, we have the
great state of California. Be it known to all
Americans that the state of California is the
ONLY STATE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
THAT REFUSES TO GRANT A SINGLE
PENNY OF EDUCATIONAL MONEY TO
NATIONAL GUARDSMEN. Ah yes, California, where does the current Speaker of
the House hail from? NICE! The current
annual budget for California is approximately $130,000,000,000.00 (One Hundred
and Thirty Billion) per year. The approximate cost to fund an educational benefit
for returning National Guard Veterans is
3,000,000.00 (Three Million per year).
They spend more per year to empty their
state house ash trays! YOU CAN KEEP
CALIFORNIA! Better yet, give it back
to Mexico.
VFW ELECTIONS: Most of you
know that I have chosen to step down as
Post Board of Director President. I thank
you for your past support. I feel that I have
accomplished all of the goals that I had set
for the post a few years back. I thank you
for your continued faith in asking me to retain a seat on the Board of Directors, which
I have accepted. The Board of Directors
elections for the VFW Post #1018 seats
were conducted on July 10th, 2007. Congratulations to George Murray PC, elected
as the President of the board. Congratulations to Jorge Castro PC, elected as the
Vice President of the board. Congratulations
to Marty Columbo PC, elected as the clerk
of the board. Other members elected were:
yours truly; Patrick Rose PC, Christopher
Colby (current Commander), James
Saunders, Frank DeClement, Robert
(Doc) Sprague PC, Brendan McCarthy
(current Senior Vice). Congratulations to all
and we all thank the members for their continued support and faith in us.
HONORABLE MENTION: Once
again, the man of the hour, Marty Columbo
(recently retired from the Boston Police
Department, last assigned BPD Drug Unit)
entertained all at the Annual State VFW
Convention with what he does best:
“ELVIS COLUMBO!” Enjoy the pictures,
some things never change. (Too bad this
edition wasn’t printed prior to the 11th of
August, Marty was having an Elvis time at

the post, I’m sure it will be a success). Further more and on a more serious note, I
would like to congratulate the Boston Police Honor Guard (who also represents the
Boston Police Post as the Honor Guard) for
once again winning the ‘Senior Honor
Guard’ at the Annual State Convention.
These dedicated Officers proudly represent
this post at various events throughout the
year and always do us proud!
UPCOMING EVENTS: There is a
Time For a Friend scheduled for the 22nd
of August 2007 at the Post. I would encourage all personnel to attend or at the very
least contribute. This individual that we are
holding this event for is truly in need and
being unduly victimized by circumstances
beyond his control. Contact any BPPA
Union representative for tickets or contact
Mark Bruno, District 6. Thank you in advance. The Annual Military Ball is scheduled to be held on September 8th at 7:00
pm. This is a casual event hosted by the post,
with a great meal and music for your dancing pleasure. There is NO COST to you to
attend this event, all are welcome! Our annual ‘TOYS FOR TOTS’ motorcycle run is
scheduled for Sunday the 23rd of September. The registration is from 10:00am 12:00 noon, cost of $10.00 per participant,
or an un-wrapped, non-violent toy with a
retail value of at least $10.00. We have been
able to raise thousands of dollars for this
event over the years, (with the generous
support and backing of the BPPA and many
local community stores and vendors). All
are welcome to join us, you don’t have to
ride to enjoy the festivities and cookout
hosted by the post after the ride. Please help
us help those less fortunate.
REMINDER: VFW Post meetings are
held on the third Monday of each month in
the upper hall at 1930 hours. The Board of
Directors meets at 1800 hours downstairs.
The VFW meeting is open to all members,
and we encourage active participation. The
Board of Directors conducts its’ annual open
meeting on the 2nd Tuesday in July, (per
the by-laws). Once again let me offer an
invitation to visit the completely remodeled
Post, inside and out. A reminder that inside of the post is SMOKE FREE as of
June 1st. Enjoy a cheap, cold ‘one’ with
some old friends, or make some new friends.
Enjoy the game tables, electronic game
machine or lottery. The all new patio area
is open for horse shoes, card play or just
hang out in the fresh air in the PRIVATE
FENCED IN PATIO to enjoy a cigarette (if
you’re a smoker) or a cold one. The Post is
open seven days a week from 1500 hours
‘til closing around 0200 hours. If you are
behind on your dues, come on down and
we’ll figure something out. If you are still
not a member, what are you waiting for?
The membership cost is only $30.00 per
year. You don’t have to be a Veteran to be a
member. As always, please be safe out
there!
617-989-BPPA (2772)

Notes from the Academy:

Recent decisions on
representation under
Weingarten

Why is it?
• That some moron thought it was a good idea to create a
video game simulating the Virginia Tech shooting? (Boston Herald, p.7, 05/17/07). Who would think it was fun
to play such a sick game?
• Some people find it amusing to run onto the field at
Fenway Park? At a recent home game Michael Baggott,
37, ran onto the field from the bleacher’s seats so he could
“impress his seven year old son.” Real impressive, you
idiot! He thought he was going to talk to one of the players … instead he got to speak to Detective Billy Dunne.
• Former U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan gets to spend $40
thousand dollars in taxpayers money to send out a farewell letter? (Boston Herald, 05/18/07). Could that money
have been used to do something more productive? Stated
Meehan, “I sent the letter to let people know that the
office will still function.” Really Marty? Even with you
gone, the office can still function? Hey Marty, get over
yourself.
• Northeastern University Professor James Fox continues to support murderer Rod Matthews? Matthews is a
convicted killer who wants to be released and Fox has
said “20 years was just about the right penance.” Really?
Hey moron, what about the victim’s family? Do you think
they would agree with you? Let me guess Jim, are you
writing a book on this scumbag and how he’s such a nice
guy once you get to know him? (Boston Herald, 05/16/07)
• The Boston Herald continues to use the words “hero”
and “heroics” while describing a Red Sox game (05/18/
07), but completely buries a story (extremely short and
naming only two of the thirty-five officers, 5/31/07, p.
29), about Boston Police Officers honored for bravery?

What “hero” ever emerges from a game at Fenway? I
think these words are meant for people who risk their
lives and sometimes die while protecting others, (Military, cops, firefighters, EMS). But Manny and Coco?
Please!
• Anyone is surprised to learn that Boston drivers are
ranked third behind New York and Miami as the “least
courteous?” (Boston Herald, 05/07/07). I always thought
we were number one. And Mayor Menino will be happy
to know that 15% of Boston drivers report bad drivers to
the police. This is the largest percentage of any U.S. city.
Hats Off To:
• Off duty FBI agent Pete Bickmore who saved a young
girl’s life recently by performing CPR on her after she
was struck by a vehicle in Stoneham. Nice job!
• Police Officer Mike Grovo of the Buxton Police Department, twenty miles west of Portland, Maine, was the
lead investigator and pursued every tip in the disappearance of a local teenaged girl. Sadly, her body was found
in the Saco River six months after she was reported missing (Boston Globe, 05/16/07).
• The voters in Farmers Branch, Texas who recently passed
a local ordinance prohibiting landlords from renting to
most illegal aliens (Boston Herald, 05/14/07). I don’t
think we will see anything like this being proposed in
Boston.
• To the fact that the foolish residency ordinance has been
relaxed for our members and many city workers, this illconceived idea was never any good.
Stay Safe,
PO Mike Kane,
Boston Police Academy

Living Through Divorce

(continued from page B19)
ployees with a right to representation in disciplinary interviews, the employees could not claim Weingarten rights
under state law. (Unfortunately for the employees, the state
law allowing for representation is weaker in some respects
than employee rights under Weingarten.) New York City
Transit Authority v. New York State Pub. Employment
Relations Bd., 864 N.E.2d 56 (N.Y., Feb. 20, 2007).

Joe the Boss sounds off
again
(continued from page B19)
“suitable” translator. There’s that word again must be another hidden code word that will appear along with his
“peers”. It has been reported that once this information
became public the Washington Post took less than a week
to find three in the language of Vai. Sounds like something
out of the Wizard of Oz. I mean what rock were these court
people living under maybe that word “suitable” comes into
play again.
There is more to this case including his mother and another relative but from now we’ll let this play out and hopefully the right and just conclusion will prevail. I’ll keep
you posted on the facts as they emerge.
As Always be Safe,
Joe the Boss
P.S. On a lighter note I’ll be traveling up to the Spa in
late August and I’ll keep you posted on that.

Attorney Hindell S. Grossman
is proud to support the

Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association
Scholarship Fund
E

www.bppa.org

189 Wells Avenue
Newton, MA 02459
Tel: 617-969-0069
Fax: 617-969-0063

P.O. Box 2830
Nantucket, MA 02584
Tel: 508-328-7880
Fax: 508-325-0171

hindell@grossmanltd.com

www.grossmanltd.com

PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007 • Page B23

Page B24 • PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007

617-989-BPPA (2772)

PAXCENTURION Section C

EMS Division
Unity & Strength
Putting it all on the line

Apathy
Pronunciation: (ap’ -the¯)
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek apatheia, from
apathe¯s without feeling, from a-pathos
emotion lack of feeling or emotion:
IMPASSIVENESS
archaic: unsusceptible to pain
b: unsusceptible to physical feeling
c: unsusceptible to or destitute of
emotion
2: giving no sign of feeling or emotion
2a: lack of interest or concern:
INDIFFERENCE
I use the above definition of apathy
as an opening to this article to share with
you what I am a witness to.
I have worked at Boston EMS for 11
years now and, as the time has gone by,
I feel the only thing that this department
has tried to instill in me and those around
me is the above trait.
The management, and those who
have been promoted to that level over
the years, have truly signed onto the
Apathy lifestyle and are handing out the
unseen Apathy pill that makes you just
slip into the great beyond, or at least they
hope you will.
They have forgotten where they come
from and how much hard work it took
to bring this department to a respectable
level.
While the look and feel may be that
of respect, their actions and the way they
have come to treat the hard working
EMT’s and Paramedics is far from that.
No contract. No parity. No death benefit. No accountability for managers/
management.
Not to mention the glaring inconsistency’s for time off requests, holidays and
personal time, to the fact we have to wait
until February to start to call for vacation selection.
Constant understaffing is a norm and
false or misleading statements from management that undercut reality serve to not
only show lack of support for the EMT’s
and Paramedics, but also the citizens of
Boston.
I just want to say nice try.
You have not gotten me hooked on
your little pill called Apathy, I hear it may
not be to late for you all either.
Just SAY NO!
I ask that you the management stop
and look from where you came and make
the difference.
– James Salvia, Paramedic 209

e

www.bppa.org

By Tony O’Brien
he Boston Fire Department was rocked
last month as one of their own, David
“Tim” Middleton, age 39, passed away in
the department’s first line-of-duty death in
years.
The members of the BPPA/EMS Division share the pain of our public safety
brothers and sisters especially those of us
who knew him.
The question on everyone’s mind is
how? How on earth could such a physically
fit and healthy young man suddenly die?
The answer is frightening, and it could
happen to any one of us.
On his last tour, firefighter Middleton
was called into action to fight not one but
two fires in the Brighton/Allston district.
Each time he and his coworkers heard
the call “Eng 51, respond to…” their bodies react in a violent surge of adrenaline
causing pulse & blood pressure to increase
rapidly.
Studies have shown that EMT’s and
Paramedics undergo the exact same response each time they are dispatched to a
call.
The public will use terms like “adrenaline junkie” to describe us and the thrill we
get from rushing to someone’s aid in their
darkest hour.
They have no idea the amount of strain
our cardiovascular system endures in a
single shift.
Ed Kelly, president of Boston Fire Fighters Local 718, said it best when commenting to the Boston Herald on the passing of
Middleton. “When the bell goes off, you
kick start your heart. When you do that over
and over repeatedly, it does a number on
your body” said Kelly.
As an EMT or Paramedic in the city of
Boston you have well over 100,000 opportunities per year to kick start your heart.
Divide that number by the amount of
people working in the 20 ambulances we
staff daily (down to 15 at night) and it
amounts to 2500 times per year per person.
You can work the numbers down to an
average of 6.86 responses per 8 hour shift
but that is deceiving.
As we all know the call volume fluctuates and there is no telling if you are going
to have 6 or 16 responses in any given shift,
on any given ambulance.
Take for example the evening of Friday
June 1st when ambulance 6 was dispatched
to 23 incidents in an 8 hour shift.
When I arrived at midnight to work the
night shift, it was all over for one of the crew.

T

His partner was not so lucky.
My arrival meant he was only half way
through his double! In the first half of this
EMT’s 16 hour shift, his body along with
his partner’s, had sustained this flooding and
then dumping of adrenaline 23 times.
Most people don’t experience in a whole
year what the Ambulance 6 evening crew
experienced in 8 hours.
The human body will only tolerate so
much.
In 2005 United States lawmakers passed
legislation to allow firefighters who suffered

a heart attack within 24 hours of duty full
death benefits due in part to the stresses their
bodies undergo while in “response mode”.
That year a total of 61 firefighters died
in the line of duty across the nation giving
firefighters an OFR (occupational fatality
rate) of 14.2 per 100,000 workers.
Research shows a remarkably close OFR
for EMS workers of 12.7 per 100,000 during the same period, but as is often the case
EMS has been overlooked, and was left out
of the legislation.
(continued on page C3)

Personal Protective Equipment –

Empty promises

By Michael Guinta
n May, the whole department was measured for new turnout gear, PPEs, whatever
name you give them.
I was one of the last to get measured and only after being ordered by a deputy to
have it done.
Some of my co-workers were amused by this.
They perceived it as just my trying to tweak Bob Haley, my just being a bomb
tosser, or just the entertainment for the day.
My strong feelings against the turnout gear are not just my being a pain in the ass,
there are actually reasons why I disagree with us being outfitted with PPEs.
Back about 10 years ago (before 9/11), when the whole concept of PPEs were
brought up at a House of Reps meeting, the argument was made that we should not get
the gear without the same benefits as the other city agency who also wears similar
looking suits.
The discussion at the time focused on the fact that we were not regarded as being
eligible for the same benefits because we were still basically considered hospital employees by the city – BUT – by getting these suits, management was basically saying
that our job was as dangerous as the other two public safety agencies and this would
make our argument for these benefits that much stronger.
We got the suits.
Since then we have been provided a host of other equipment: masks, Mark 1 kits,
leg bags for the masks, camelbaks, little flashy lights. Swell.
We all suffered through HazWopper, various forms of incident command lectures,
drills, monthly trainings that included some form of hazmat, chemical, nuclear, biologic emergency lectures until we were suicidal.
Well here we are 10 years later, we have been fitted for another version of PPE, and
have we seen the benefits that were sure to follow with the first version of suits?
C’mon, all together now – NO!
What we have had the pleasure of is having a leader with 5 stars on his shoulder go
up and tell the City Council that we don’t really need these benefits. (Ask Joe Amaral
for the tape- or maybe I can talk him into putting it on You Tube).
If we don’t need the benefits then why do we need the protection?
Why is half a million dollars being spent on PPEs if our job is not as dangerous as
the other two agencies?
I am told that this is not really turnout gear, it is only for blood borne pathogens.
We don’t wear it at shootings, stabbings, MVAs – there’s lots of blood there.
We don’t wear it starting IVs- big risk for exposure there.
We (well some of you) wear it at Hazmat drills and incidents and fire standbys.
Read the materials that come with the gear, the manufacturer is willing to put disclaimers on almost every page saying it may not be adequate, may have health hazards
(continued on page C2)

I

PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007 • Page C1

I’m in an Emergency Department:
Send me an ambulance!

B

By Jay Weaver
y now most of you have heard about
the mishap that occurred recently in
a Los Angeles emergency department, the one in which a woman with a perforated bowel died on the waiting room
floor as hospital staff walked around her.
Picked up by the national media, this
story has been reported in widely differing
ways.
Several national newscasts laid the blame
solely on the hospital. They mentioned that
a pair of calls had been placed to 911, requesting that an ambulance take the woman
to a different facility, but this issue was mentioned only in passing.
The greater tragedy, these newscasts
seemed to suggest, was that the hospital
neglected its duty to treat someone who had
arrived for treatment.
Some media outlets spun this story
around, however, focusing instead on the
role of 911 and the local EMS authority in
the woman’s death.
Woman Dies in E.R. Lobby as 911 Refuses to Help, read the headline on
MSNBC.com.
Meanwhile, CBS.com ran the story under the headline, Ignored by 911, Woman
Dies in Hospital.
Here’s my question: Was she really ignored by 911?

Or does this incident represent an evergrowing trend — namely, the use of municipal ambulance systems for interfacility
transfers.
Transcripts of the phone calls placed to
the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department sug-

EMS
Division

Unity & Strength

gest that the 911 operator could have been
more courteous.
But that doesn’t mean the woman was
ignored.
She didn’t die on the street, or in a
doctor’s office, or in a minimally-staffed
clinic with limited diagnostic capabilities.
She died in a hospital emergency department — a licensed, accredited facility that
should have been able to handle such a situation.
Her death was a tragedy, certainly, but it
was a tragedy created by the hospital’s inability, or unwillingness, to identify and treat
a seriously ill patient.
Judging from the tone of editorials and
comments that have appeared online since
this story broke, the public feels that the
local EMS authority had a responsibility to

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save this woman from the same emergency
department from which she had sought care.
An ambulance should have been dispatched, they say, to bring her to some other
hospital.
I don’t agree. The overcrowding of
America’s emergency departments has
reached epidemic proportions, but so has
the overuse of emergency ambulance services, particularly in major cities.

I

t’s bad enough that hundreds of thousands of people call 911 each day for
minor illnesses and injuries that don’t
constitute emergencies, but now the area of
responsibility is being stretched to include
hospital emergency departments as well.
What’s next? Telling people it’s okay to
call 911 from the emergency department
when the waiting time is too long?
These are ambulances we’re talking
about, not taxi cabs, and there are far too
few of them to go around as it is, without

using them to take patients out of emergency
departments.
Yesterday we were dispatched three
times during a ninety-minute period to the
same community health center. There was
a time when municipal ambulances weren’t
used at all for such duties, but here in Boston, at least, this has become a daily occurrence.
In a dire emergency, when the patient
needs specialized treatment or personnel not
available at the clinic, it makes sense to call
911.
But these weren’t emergencies.
One patient, in fact, didn’t want to go to
the hospital at all. He’d visited the hospital
two weeks earlier, for tingling in his fingers. The hospital had arranged a followup appointment at the health center. The
health center, in turn, called 911 to have him
sent back to the hospital. To get him over
there more quickly, someone at the health
(continued on page C3)

Personal Protective Equipment –
Empty promises
(continued from page C1)
associated with wearing it, they seem to
want no responsibility for the efficacy of
the product they sell.
So again the question arises – Why?
The Union – OUR UNION – has been
fighting for years to gain parity with the
other two Public Safety agencies with limited success.
We respond to the same incidents- often
before the scene is secure- and do our jobs.
What most of us fail to comprehend is
that if we put our gear on and stand side by
side with the BFD or BPD at an incident,
and by some stroke of misfortune the unthinkable were to happen, we would still
be ineligible for the benefits afforded to the
folks we are standing beside.
More importantly – neither would our
survivors.
The same gentleman in the office who
refuses to publicly acknowledge that we
deserve these benefits are counting on the
fact that in the future we will not think of
this and continue to jump in as we have done
in the past.
How’s this for a scenario: We respond
to District B-2 for a 45 year old BPD officer with chest pain. BFD, ALS, BLS.
We decide this officer needs to be transported. We place this gentleman in a
stairchair and carry him down to the ambulance.
While coming down the stairs one of the
Paramedics develops some CP which he
blows off until he finishes the call.
Back at the station one of the firefighters
begins to experience some chest pain as well.
All 3 city employees are evaluated, all
deemed to be cardiac, all require the same
course of care, 2 are covered unconditionally by the Heart and Lung Bill, 1 employee
is not – GUESS WHICH ONE.

The time to address this issue is now, not
after the tragedy happens and we are able
to say we told you so.
There are members of this departmentnot all of whom wear stars- making lots of
money on the Homeland Security Gravy
Train telling whoever will listen how good
we are at what we do and how much protective gear they have provided for us.
What they fail to mention is that the protection ends with the gear.
They dress us like the other agency and
expect us to work beside the other agency
but not give us the same advantages.
Well it’s been about 10 years and the time
has come to stop the nonsense.
We have been making the argument long
before the events of 9/11.
It’s time to wake up and refuse the protective gear until they provide us with the
parity we deserve.
No more Hazmat, no more MCI, no
more NBC Training.
Next time you are at a Hazwopper refresher and they want you to suit up and
sweat your genitals off doing DeCon –
JUST SAY NO.
Send the message loud and clear that we
not only want but demand these benefits.
The only way to win is to stand firm.
The NTSB, AAOS, and State off Mass.
Protocols start every algorithm with “Scene
Safety” – Our putting this gear on automatically Implies that the scene is not safe – we
should be using this rationale to our advantage.
The perfect time to press the issue is now.
We have been constantly bombarded
with the “not if but when” theory about
Hazmat and Homeland Security.
It’s time we demanded a suitable answer
to that question about benefits and parity.
617-989-BPPA (2772)

Reflections of the National EMS Memorial

F

By Paul Ciampa
or those of you who were unable to
attend the annual pilgrimage to
Roanoke, VA, I will start by saying
that the sixteen inductees were not much
different from us in many ways.
They were all dedicated individuals who
paid the highest price for coming to work.
Our profession, which may offer great
personal satisfaction and rewards, seldom
garners the recognition of the powers-thatbe or mass media until tragedy occurs.
Since EMS week is over and very little
of the service was covered by the media, I
will do my best to give an overview.
The backdrop of the Shenandoah Valley
is quite spectacular. The majesty of the Blue
Ridge Mountains and the regal splendor of
The Hotel Roanoke create the somber tone
of what is to come.

The hotel which is a turn-of-the-century
Grand Hotel, built during the age of steam
trains and horse and buggy travel were the
norm.
The hotel to its own
right was the first hotel
with the modern convenience of A/C.
It has hosted many
national and international figures and dignitaries. Its staff charms
you from the moment of
arrival. Southern hospitality does not even
describe how you are treated.
On Friday afternoon, the EMS bike riders joined up on the outskirts of Roanoke
to finish their rides. This year there were
two rides: one starting in New York City
and the other starting in Kentucky. Both

Putting it all on the line
(continued from page C1)
How much can we take?
The call volume at Boston EMS is growing each year, yet the work force remains
the same. We epitomize the “more with
less” concept.
The problem is, along with the emotional
stress of our job, we are required to meet
the physical requirements of a 20 year old
well into our 50’s and 60’s.
While studying back injury prevention,
the San Francisco Department of Public
Health estimated that a full time EMT or
Paramedic in an urban 9-1-1 system lifts in
excess of 230,000 pounds each year. That’s
115 TONS!
Class after class of new recruits are hired,
not to compliment current staffing levels,
but to backfill the people who leave this job
for one with a decent retirement system and
an identity.
They leave for a job in “Public safety.”
Those of us who remain, those who have
decided upon a lifetime of service to the
people of Boston, are rewarded by remaining an unknown, invisible, quasi-city/public health service.
Well here’s an interesting little fact, we
are public safety!
You won’t hear Chief Serino say it, you
certainly won’t hear anyone from the Boston Public Health commission say it, but
we are.
Just ask any police officer or firefighter
how they would feel if we weren’t there at
the barricaded hostage situation, the building fire, the shooting, stabbing, car accident
or any of the other hazardous incidents we
respond to simultaneously with them.
They will tell you that when things go
bad, when a civilian, police officer or
firefighter is in trouble, they all look for us.
And we are always there right beside them.
Why? Because we are a public safety
organization.
Again, each one of these responses promotes a huge adrenaline rush and we take
one step closer to a serious medical condition.
We have several members of our departwww.bppa.org

ment who have had significant cardiac
events in the past, only to recover and get
right back onto the streets.
We have also lost a member due to a
cardiac event. EMT Ed Pike suffered a heart
attack while driving to work in 2001. Although he was just minutes away, and in
full uniform, EMT Pike’s death was not
considered in the line of duty.
Recently our union president gave compelling testimony at the State House regarding the glaring inequity of the Commonwealth’s line-of-duty death benefit.
President Orsino educated the legislature
of the new role of EMS including the unknown dangers we face on a daily basis.
The public services committee was truly
unaware of the conditions we now work in
and they left the hearing with full understanding that we are no longer simply ambulance drivers.
We would like to thank the members of
the public services committee for passing
the issue on favorably to the next phase of
the legislative process.
Another politician who deserves great
thanks from our membership is State Senator Joan Menard.
Senator Menard recently filled legislation to move municipal EMT’s and Paramedics into group four of the state’s retirement system.
Senator Menard recognizes the disparity in the current system. She and others
are working diligently to ensure the men
and women of Boston EMS who give a lifetime of service to the city are able to enjoy
the retirement they deserve.
With real progress being made in these
two key areas I’m filled with cautious optimism.
It’s been a long time coming, but it appears the people who work at Boston EMS
may finally be receiving the recognition
they deserve.
I wonder how many of our former members are reconsidering their choice to jump
from a ship which apparently is not sinking
after all?

groups had their share of bumps, bruises, enough time go back to the hotel to eat, rest,
and injuries although none of the riders maybe take a swim.
complained once reaching the hotel.
Then it’s time to get dressed for the serThey arrived in grand fashion to the play- vice which is held in the early evening. For
ing of the pipes and those who are not in an honor guard “The
drums in the back- Star City” has alot to offer. Its annual festiground while es- val is held in the downtown area which is
corted by multiple much like Faneuil Hall.
public safety agenIn the opening moments as the service
cies. After brief photo begins in silence you are directed to rise.
ops, the riders and The call of the pipes and drums is coming
participants of the ser- from out in the distance, the doors open,
vice were treated to a and their ominous presence draws the atreal southern traditional home-style meal. tention of one and all.
The meal and dessert was prepared entirely
The presentation of colors follows in all
by the Cave Springs Volunteer Rescue their pageantry while family, friends, and
Squad Auxiliary.
other members of service standby to honor
These dedicated people are mostly the fallen.
grandmothers, wives, or daughters of the
Opening remarks, the Pledge of Allemembers of the squad. I can tell
you all if you left hungry it was The “Tree of Life” the symbol of
purely your own fault. They
even provided meals for those the memorial is in fact the only
who were unable to find their tangible evidence that EMS has
way.
A point of note, there are no its own memorial.
paid EMS providers in the area
other than large fire departments in larger giance, and the singing of our National
cities. EMS and Rescue is an all-volunteer Anthem then continues the service.
effort. They provide primary care to most
The honor guards and pipes and drums
of Roanoke County, an area significantly exit to the loud crack of a snare drum.
larger than Boston. They derive all their
This year’s service key note speakers
funding by gracious donations and active included; FDNY EMS Chief John
fundraising.
Peruggia, JEMS editor A.J. Heightman,
After dinner, our brothers and sisters and Chief Mary Beth Michos of Prince
from Local 2507 graciously provided liba- William County VA, Department of Fire and
tions for a couple of hours in The Pine Rescue.
Room. Thus allowing providers from all over
The common theme of the speakers was
the country to meet and greet one another.
service, dedication, and safety of the honThe delegates come from all over the orees and of EMS providers all over the
country representing their brothers and sis- country.
ters who paid the highest price. I won’t go
A single white rose, a folded American
into details but Foley’s has nothing on the Flag, and The Medallion of the NEMS
Pine Room or the outside balcony on Fri- Memorial Service, was then presented to
day evening (I suggest trying a few cher- each family, while viewing a photograph
ries if you make the trip).
of their loved one.
Saturday begins early at 9 am with all
Although the biography is read to onethe Honor Guards and members of the Pipes self, it never loses its impact. These honorand Drums meeting at The First Baptist ees’ deaths, tragic to their loved ones and
Church for rehearsal (use your imagination friends, truly impacts all of us since at any
after Friday night.).
given time we can be added to what the
After running thru the service multiple Memorial service calls the “Tree of Life”
times, all of us hitting our marks, you have
(continued on page C4)

I’m in an Emergency Department:
Send me an ambulance!
(continued from page C2)
center reported that the man’s “throat was
closing.” We found him walking around in
the clinic with a cane, in no distress at all.
When we asked about his throat, he said,
“What are you talking about? I never said
anything about my throat. My fingers are
tingling, that’s all. And they’ve been doing
that for two weeks. I don’t see what all the
fuss is about.”
What does the death of the woman in
L.A. have to do with a clinic doctor making inappropriate use of an emergency ambulance?
Simple. Both situations fall outside the
domain of 911 services.

People are forever complaining about the
time it takes for an ambulance to reach them
in an emergency.
If sending an ambulance to an emergency
department is deemed acceptable, and if we
can’t even get physicians to see the difference between an emergency and a nonemergency, then people who call 911 from
their homes for life-threatening emergencies will really have something to complain
about.
Because when all the ambulances are tied
up at hospitals and clinics, they’ll find themselves waiting a lot longer for help.

PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007 • Page C3

Making a
Difference

Page C4 • PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007

617-989-BPPA (2772)

Reflections of the
National EMS Memorial
(continued from page C3)
each person’s name is inscribed on a brass
oak leaf. Every leaf is part of a branch on
the tree.
The “Tree of Life” the symbol of the
memorial is in fact the only tangible evidence that EMS has its own memorial.
If you look for it you won’t find it because unlike our Brothers in Blue or the Fire
Service who have permanent memorials
ours is stored in a warehouse somewhere in
Virginia.
It was located in the To the Rescue Museum located in a shopping mall in
Roanoke.
When the museum failed to renew its
lease, the tree was dismantled and stored.
I can tell you our union leadership along
with other larger EMS providers has begun
the arduous task of securing a permanent
site and design for our fallen.
The permanent memorial will truly withstand the test of time.
Closing the service starts with the “Moment of Silence” this is observed by providers throughout the nation. It is coordinated with great precision.
The retiring of colors begins with the
Honor Guards taking up the flags of the
states of the honorees. The pipes and drums
leading the procession out of the church
while members in attendance line up.
The playing of traditional hymns Going
Home and Amazing Grace on the pipes

www.bppa.org

draw tears from the last of the stoic ones,
then Taps played by buglers.
Lastly the flyover of an aero med helicopter draws the ceremonies to a close. All
members are then dismissed to attend a
small reception back inside the church.
While I truly appreciate the hard work
dedication of all the volunteers who make
up this weekend in Roanoke I see we all
need to help and support our unions’ efforts in creating a more permanent memorial site.
I urge all of you to do whatever you can
to help. Politics aside the only fitting memorial for anyone who has died in the line
of duty is a permanent one which the general public has exposure to.
A place where friends loved ones can
go to anytime not just once a year.
A place where ordinary people can see
us for who we are and not just drivers who
take them to a hospital.
I’ll close with we have been lucky to
have never placed a friend, loved one, or
a colleagues name onto that “Tree of
Life.”
I ask you all to be safe while attending
to your patients, be vigilant for your safety
and that of your partners.
Your family, friends, and colleagues
appreciate you and the work that so often
does not get the recognition it so truly
deserves.

?

At the Movies:

Bill Carroll

How’s Your Movie Knowledge?
1. What two actors received the most Oscar nominations without ever winning
the coveted award?
2. What was the first film to feature the Best
Actor Oscar winner and the Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner?
3. What actress received the most Oscar
nominations without ever winning?
4. Who was the first Oscar winner to be
nominated for a Best Supporting Actor
Oscar?
5. Who is the oldest actor to win a Best Supporting Actor Oscar?
(see answers on page C17)

?

Sports Trivia:

Bill Carroll

How Many Can You Get Correct?
1. Who was the last Red Sox player to hit for the cycle?
2. Who is the only Red Sox player to hit for the
cycle twice?
3. What pitcher holds the Red Sox career
record for appearances?
4. Who holds the Yankees career record for
RBI’s?
5. Who holds the Orioles record for
career home runs?
6. Who was the last NFC team to win the Super Bowl?
7. Who holds the NFL rookie records for rushing yards in a season?
8. What NFL team holds the record for most rushing yards in a season?
9. Who are the only two brothers inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame?
10. Who holds the all-time major league record for pitching appearances?
(see answers on page C17)

PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007 • Page C5

Health
Safety
Knowledge

Because health, safety and knowledge are among
life’s most precious possessions, we’re proud to support the

ops for Kids with Cancer was founded by Captain
John Dow when he joined forces with Garda
Detective Pat Hanlon to set up the first golf
tournament on both sides of the Atlantic. The proceeds
from that first event were donated to the cancer ward of
Mercy Hospital in Cork, Ireland.
Since that time, the true winners of the subsequent
tournaments have been children with cancer on both sides
of the ocean. Here in the states, donations have been
made to the childrens’ oncology units at Massachusetts
General Hospital and NEMC Tufts Floating Hospital. Cancer
stricken children have been sent to summer camp,
enjoyed harbor cruises and been escorted by police motocycle units to many
events. These things are made possible through funds raised at this event,
motocycle rallies and a spring fundraising dinner. We want to continue
providing these kids with anything that will brighten their outlooks and
strengthen their courage.
In February of this year, John Dow lost his battle with cancer. We lost a leader
who was loved and respected beyond words. His last concerns were for Cops
for Kids with Cancer. We are detemined not to let him down.

Thursday, September 13, 2007
at the
Spring Valley Country Club
25 Tiot Street
Sharon, MA 02067
SCHEDULE
Registration: 11 am
Shotgun start:
12 noon
Celtic Banquet at
6 pm
Spring Valley
Country Club
Entertainment
Silent Auction
Banquet Only: $50
SPONSORSHIP
All corporate sponsors will be recognized with a
tee plaque, a place on the sponsor banner,
a listing on the website and in the banquet program.
PLATINUM ............................................................ $5,000
includes 2 foursomes in the 9/13 tournament
GOLD .................................................................... $2,000
includes 1 foursomes in the 9/13 tournament
SILVER .................................................................. $1,200
includes 4 players in the 9/13 tournament
BRONZE ................................................................... $350
includes 1 player in the 9/13 tournament
HOLE SPONSOR ....................................................... $200
CFKWC is a 501(c) non-profit organization.

Irish Luck
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer.
One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard
a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his
tools and ran to the bog.
There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy,
screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming
saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman’s
sparse surroundings An elegantly dressed nobleman
stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy
Farmer Fleming had saved.
“I want to repay you,” said the nobleman. “You saved my
son’s life.”
“No, I can’t accept payment for what I did,” the Scottish
farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the
farmer’s own son came to the door of the family hovel.
“Is that your son?” the nobleman asked.
“Yes,” the farmer replied proudly.
“I’ll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of
education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his
father, he’ll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud
of.” And that he did.
Farmer Fleming’s son attended the very best schools and in
time, graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in
London, and went on to become known throughout the world
as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman’s son who was saved
from the bog was stricken with pneumonia.
What saved his life this time? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His
son’s name?
Sir Winston Churchill.
Someone once said: What goes around comes around.
Work like you don’t need the money.
Love like you’ve never been hurt.
Dance like nobody’s watching.
Sing like nobody’s listening.
Live like it’s Heaven on Earth.
Pass this on, and brighten someone’s day.
AN IRISH FRIENDSHIP WISH:
May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Page C14 • PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007

617-989-BPPA (2772)

An interesting tale of different perspectives
regarding our military
This report comes from Luke AFB and
a ‘public affairs’ query done in the local
press, apparently to embarrass our professional airmen.
Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that
complains about the noise from the base and
its planes, forgetting that it was there long
before they were.
A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB
deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently,
an individual who lives somewhere near
Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed
his/her day at the mall. When that individual
read the response from a Luke AFB officer,
it must have stung quite a bit.
The complaint:
Question of the day for Luke Air Force
Base: Whom do we thank for the morning
air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11
a.m., a tight formation of four F-16 jets
made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune!
Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need
this wake-up call, or were they trying to

impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird
special? Any response would be appreciated.”
The response:
Regarding “A wake-up call from Luke’s
jets” (Letters, Thursday): On June 15, at
precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed fourship flyby of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter
Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over
the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt.
Fresques was an Air Force officer who was
previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base
and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day. At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family
and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial
Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter
writer’s recount of the flyby, and because
of the jet noise, I’m sure you didn’t hear
the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or
my words to the widow and parents of Capt.
Fresques as I gave them their son’s flag on
behalf of the President of the United States
and all those veterans and servicemen and
women who understand the sacrifices they
have endured. A four-ship flyby is a display of respect the Air Force pays to those

THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

PEER SUPPORT UNIT

We are a peer-driven support program
for police officers and their families.
Our program is strictly confidential
and is available to all
police officers and their families.

Group or individual help with handling
family and life issues, alcohol, drugs,
anger and domestic issues.
Referral for specialist as needed.

who give their lives in defense of freedom.
We are professional aviators and take our
jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects. The
letter writer asks, “Whom do we thank for
the morning air show?” The 56th Fighter
Wing will call for you, and forward your

thanks to the widow and parents of Capt.
Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was
in their honor that my pilots flew the most
honorable formation of their lives.
–Lt. Col. Scott Pleus,
CO, 63rd Fighter Squadron,
Luke AFB
– From Michael Carnell

Idiot Sightings
IDIOT SIGHTING:
I had to have the garage door repaired. The Sears repairman told us that one of our
problems was that we did not have a “large” enough motor on the opener. I thought
for a minute, and said that we had the largest one Sears made at that time a 1/2
horsepower. He shook his head and said, “Lady, you need a 1/4 horsepower.” I
responded that 1/2 was larger than 1/4. He said, “NO, it’s not.” Four is larger than
two. We haven’t used Sears repair since.
��������
IDIOT SIGHTING:
I live in a semi-rural area. We recently had a new neighbor call the local township
administrative office to request the removal of the Deer Crossing sign on our road.
The reason: “Too many deer are being hit by cars out here! I don’t think this is a
good place for them to be crossing anymore.”
From Kingman, KS
��������
IDIOTS IN FOOD SERVICE:
My daughter went to a local Taco Bell and ordered a taco. She asked the person
behind the counter for “minimal lettuce.” He said he was sorry, but they only had
iceburg. He was a Chef?
Yep...From Kansas City!
��������
IDIOT SIGHTING:
I was at the airport, checking in at the gate when an airport employee asked, “Has
anyone put anything in your baggage without your knowledge. To which I replied,
“If it was without my knowledge, how would I know?” He smiled knowingly and
nodded, “That’s why we ask.”
Happened in Birmingham, AL
��������
IDIOT SIGHTING:
The stoplight on the corner buzzes when its safe to cross the street. I was crossing
with an intellectually challenged coworker of mine. She asked if I knew what the
buzzer was for. I explained that it signals blind people when the light is red. Appalled, she responded, “What on earth are blind people doing driving?!”
She was a probation officer in Wichita, KS
��������
IDIOT SIGHTING:
At a good-bye luncheon for an old and dear coworker. She was leaving the company due to “downsizing.” Our manager commented cheerfully, “This is fun. We
should do this more often.” Not another word was spoken. We all just looked at
each other with that deer-in-the-headlights stare.
This was a bunch at Texas Instruments.
��������
IDIOT SIGHTING:
I work with an individual who plugged her power strip back into itself and for the
sake of her own life, couldn’t understand why her system would not turn on.
A deputy with the Dallas County Sheriff’s office no less.
��������
IDIOT SIGHTING:
When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our car, we
were told the keys had been locked in it. We went to the service department and
found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the drivers side door. As I watched
from the passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it
was unlocked. “Hey,” I announced to the technician, “its open! His reply, “I know –
I already got that side.”
This was at the Ford dealership in Canton, Mississippi!
��������
STAY ALERT!
They walk among us… and they REPRODUCE!
PAX CENTURION • July/August 2007 • Page C15

Millennium salutes
The Boston Police
Patrolmen Association
and all those who

Persist despite the odds.
Give the gift of
encouragement.
Lay the groundwork
for a better tomorrow.

he Golf Committee would like to thank everyone who participated in making the
2007 Annual Tournament a great success.
This year’s tournament was held at Franklin Park Golf Course with the reception held
at the Boston Police Post. The food was catered by Porto Bello restaurant in South Boston.
The Committee would also like to acknowledge the many, while behind the scenes,
who make this event a reality along with our gracious sponsors with whom we should
reciprocate in kind by frequenting their place of business.
Special thanks to Fred Stevens, Jay Broderick, Joe Vannelli, Pat Rose, Marty
Columbo and Mark Bruno the many others who help with the set up work and preparation…
Thank you one and all,
The Golf Committee
2007 Sponsors
JJ Foleys Café
Porto Bello Restaurant, South Boston
Eire Pub
City of Boston Credit Union
Gary Sullivan – Labor Benefits Plan
State Representative Walter Timilty
Ultimate Parking
Who’s on First?
Vintage Lounge – Broad St., Boston
The Designers Edge
Senator James Timilty
Senator Michael Morrissey
Representative Bob DeLeo
Law Offices of Byrne & Drechsler, LLP
State Representative Kevin Honan
City Council President Maureen Feeney
Sandulli, Grace PC
Trinity Bar
Higs/Citywide Tickets
The Fours Restaurant & Sports Bar
Boston Firefighters, Local 718
James Higgins, Attorney at Law
Beachcomber, Wollaston Beach

At the Movies

?

(see questions on page C5)

Sports
(see questions on page C5)

1. The last Red Sox player to hit for the cycle was John Valentin who did it on June 6,
1996.
2. The only Red Sox player to hit for the cycle twice was Bobby Doerr who did it on
May 17, 1944, and May 13, 1947.
3. Bob Stanley holds the Red Sox career record for pitching appearances with 637.
4. The Yankees record for career RBI’s is held by Lou Gehrig with 1995, Babe Ruth is
second with 1971.
5. The Orioles career record for homeruns is held by Cal Ripken with 431.
6. The last NFC team to win the Super Bowl was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who beat
the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.
7. The NFL record for most rushing yards in a season by a rookie is held by Eric Dickerson
who rushed for 1808 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1983.
8. The 1978 New England Patriots hold the NFL record for rushing yards in a season
with 3,165. Sam Cunningham was the leading rusher with 768 yards.
9. The only two brothers to be inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame are Pirates right
fielder Paul Waner and his brother Lloyd who played center field for the Pirates.
10. The major league record for pitching appearances is held by southpaw Jesse Orosco
who appeared in 1,252 games during a 24 year career.

T

Trivia Answers

1. Actors Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole each received 7 Oscar nominations without
winning.
2. The first film to feature the Best Actor Oscar winner and the Best Supporting Actor
Oscar winner was Going My Way in 1944, with Bing Crosby winning the Best Actor
Oscar and Barry Fitzgerald copping the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
3. Actress Deborah Kerr received 6 Oscar nominations, but never won the Oscar.
4. Victor McLaglen won a Best Actor Oscar in 1935 for his role in The Informer, and in
1952 was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar as Squire Will Danaher in The
Quiet Man.
5. The oldest actor to win a Best Supporting Actor Oscar was George Burns who won in
1975 at the age of 80.

Thanks to all who participated
in the 2007 Golf Tournament

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